Beam me back to the 1970s: Bilenkin retrofits a modern BMW
Date
4/17/2016 4:13:53 AM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Photo: Bilenken website The bespoke Bilenken from Russia is a car that glories in 1970s styling including a turquoise fascia and Paisley-pattern seats.
The bespoke Bilenken from Russia is a car that glories in 1970s styling including a turquoise fascia and Paisley-pattern seats but under the surface it's a road-hugging brand-new BMW 435i.
The Beamer that beams you back 40 years in time is the incredible creation of Russian coachbuilder Kiril Bilenkin.
Check out its website to see its twin-tone paint finish in bronze-gold and sea-green. Right down to its chrome bumpers and diamond-studded interior with a frosted gearshift this retro creation will seem the essence of kitsch to today's hipsters.
It is one of the most bizarre sets of wheels to ever emerge from the country famous for humdrum Lada saloons.
Even more amazing is how engineer Kiril Bilenkin managed to hide the donor: the flashy exterior and sumptuous cabin with gold threads give no hint of the German engineering under the metal. The car even has modern features like multiple airbags and traction control.
The reworked BMW
Bilenkin has taken the standard BMW platform and embellished it with ideas of his own.
The car turned heads at the Dubai Motor Show last November and can now be ordered.
"My taste in cars is stuck somewhere between the 1960s and '70s" Bilenkin told Germany's Spiegel news magazine. The Russian specializes in restoring classic cars.
Building the prototype vintage took more than a year and the effort is reflected in the price tag of 300000 euros (330000 dollars).
The BMW 4 coupe it is based on has great power and a balanced chassis so Bilenkin's creation will appeal to someone looking for a stand-out car that drives superbly.
The flamboyant features of the prototype are designed to appeal to status-conscious sheikhs and discerning car collectors. Bilenkin has also produced a less flashy version in black with a cabin finished in brown leather.
dpa