1971 BMW 1600 that’s been transformed into a pickup

In 1991, there was an R&B hit called Things That Make You Go Hmmm, and I would submit that the Pick of the Day, a 1971 BMW 1600 transformed into a pickup, would be one of those things that make you go “hmmm.”

As in, hmmm, why would someone decide it’s a good idea to cut off the backside of a vintage BMW coupe and replace it with a pickup bed?  The result is certainly distinctive, and possibly handy for toting a few bulky items, but… hmmm.

Another custom feature that’s not quite as perplexing is the boost in power afforded by a later-model BMW inline-6 engine in lieu of the original 1.6-liter 4-banger.

“Originally powered by a 1.6L M10 inline-4, this car has received a transplanted E36 2.5L straight-six giving it quite the power and response,” says the Okahumpka, Florida, dealer advertising the ersatz pickup on ClassicCars.com. “Shifting is through a 4-speed manual gearbox.”

Other added features include M sport seats, a custom exhaust and upgraded audio system. The BMW shows just over 40,000 miles, the dealer says, although it’s not clear whether that’s total mileage or the miles put on since the car’s transformation.

The BMW originally was painted white but redone in burgundy at the same time it received its pickup bed, which the seller says has wood trim and a rubber-mat floor.  The car runs and drives, the seller adds, and is likely quite fast.

In the photos with the ad, the pickup looks reasonably well-built and in nice condition, with a sporty interior for two in a cab that is open in the back.  The car wears later-model BMW basket-weave wheels and wide tires, with fender flares installed.  

So, for those facing that existential automotive dilemma of wanting a sporty car but needing a pickup truck, at least for small loads, that BMW could provide the answer. Of course, you’d have a lot of explaining to do everywhere you go, and you’d have to put up with a lot of people going “hmmm.”

The price for this apparently unique BMW pickup is $18,999.

Okahumpka, by the way, is an unincorporated community in central Florida, northwest of Orlando, which in the 2010 census had a population of 267.

To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.