E9 Trailer - Clever or Sacrilege?

[HonaloochieBoogie]

Forgive me if this has been discussed here before, but I could not locate anything about it using the search function. I remember seeing a photo of it back before I purchased my coupe in the early 2000’s, then promptly forgot about it. For some reason it popped into my head this week and it took me half a cigar before I located it on the inter web.

Now, all these years later when I look at it I’m conflicted because I understand how rare parts are for these rolling pieces of art. So I ask…thoughts?

 

[halboyles]

We use a 2002 trailer from a front end totaled car. Light weight and maneuverable. We just towed this to the Mid-America '02 Fest and it got as much attention as the CS!

BTW, if anyone needs a hitch designed for the CS, I bought the last one from the British company that makes them over 2 years ago. It turns out that it only works on the pre-74 US cars, so it is available.

 

[Oldbmwcoupes]

Both trailers are pretty cool! And both are certainly clever. The image of the matching red trailer looks like there could be a proper front to it. If so, this makes it that much more unique and a fun abstraction. A trailer, made from another classic car has an instant draw. It’s more interesting when it’s towed by a car that by most of our standards, shouldn’t ever tow anything, I have extra cars laying around and this would be a fun diversion. Especially if any single one of my cars was truly finished.

 

[dave v. in nc]

Inquiring minds want to see the front of the e9 trailer, as the hint of a bumper is there...wonder if there is a grille, etc...By my math, at 100K for the car the trailer should be worth around $32.5K

That looks great Hal...love the last shot with the tent and wheels!

 

[adawil2002]

'02 & E9 trailers are cool. There was a Mercedes 190SL with a matching teardrop trailer at Bonham's Greenwich in 2016.

 

[dave v. in nc]

Love the SL...surprised there is no W/C.

 

[teahead]

I love it!

For the red E9 trailer, wish we could see the "tongue" of it to checkout the front grille.

 

[Tom2240]

We use a 2002 trailer from a front end totaled car. Light weight and maneuverable. We just towed this to the Mid-America '02 Fest and it got as much attention as the CS!

BTW, if anyone needs a hitch designed for the CS, I bought the last one from the British company that makes them over 2 years ago. It turns out that it only works on the pre-74 US cars, so it is available.

Is it a Watling towbar by any chance? They where know for making towbar for unusual cars

 

[halboyles]

Is it a Watling towbar by any chance?

It is, in fact, an original Watling towbar. I was told by them that this was the last one they made for the CSs and they weren't making any more. So it's special! It also includes the adapter for US hitch balls.

 

[Pinstripe inc.]

Definitely sacrilege. Yuk!

 

[CSL177]

Done properly (meaning attractive front panel and not a box) they're always clever, regardless of marque. The CS one needs a CS nose, or at lease the same shape as the rear.
Same for the 2002. I've seen a few very cool VW examples including a slick 5th wheel split bus... a couple of Beetles and at least one Type 3, too.
But Google "57 Chevy Trailer" for some real Mackdaddies! The fuzzy dice crowd throws down.

 

[Stevehose]

I think they are clever, and a reminder to not take our hobby too seriously!

 

[mulberryworks]

Well, I've gotten one step closer to seeing what the front looks like. I found a photo with the lids open on Pinterest via Google's Image search. It may have grills but it looks like the front is pretty flat. It appears the photo was taken in Europe from the license plates, possibly France from the language suggested by Google when it found the image.

 

[JMinPDX]

They make for good conversation but I don’t see the appeal. Unless you take your coupe (or SL) on camping trips or lugging parts to sell what’s the point? Drove my coupe on an 2000 mile round trip to the Vintage last year and I never thought: “gee I wish I had a trailer.”
Defeats the purpose of driving a GT Coupe (with tuned suspension) on twisty roads, which is why we’re here.

 

[mulberryworks]

They make for good conversation but I don’t see the appeal. Unless you take your coupe (or SL) on camping trips or lugging parts to sell what’s the point? Drove my coupe on an 2000 mile round trip to the Vintage last year and I never thought: “gee I wish I had a trailer.”
Defeats the purpose of driving a GT Coupe (with tuned suspension) on twisty roads, which is why we’re here.

Not to mention that if you are driving one these trailers on the highway for any distance you'll likely pick up some rock chips in the paint. I see them as something for local drives for the guy who has restored his car and wants to make something with the left over parts.

 

[halboyles]

Definitely sacrilege. Yuk!

BMW not only produced a trailer hitch for the 2002 but also for the CS. They even made CSL and CS versions in two different tongue weights! The only coupe that they didn't make a hitch for was the the '74 model. So I fabricated a hitch based on the '74 bumper. Another great reason to love those diving boards! Also, there are many contemporary photos of coupes towing trailers in the mountains of Europe. Maybe not so Yuk!