Rare Rides Daily
Where Automotive Oddities Live.
Where Automotive Oddities Live.
Hamilton, by his own admission, owns too many cars. His manual 645, yes manual, is one of the special ones.
Firstly, I want to say sorry for writing about a 3rd BMW... I can't say it will be my last.
According to forums, there are only around 218 manual 645s made and this one landed in the hands of a super cool YouTuber Hamilton James Cars.
The 645 was originally Taylor Hetherington's and was due to be in an AutoAlex video but for some reason it never got released.
The story of how Hamilton acquired this rare manual 645 reads like a series of fortunate events. It all started with a Range Rover. Hamilton had spotted Taylor Hetherington's Rimini red L322 Range Rover from the AutoAlex caravan challenge and became obsessed with buying it. After what he describes as "an embarrassing amount of messages pleading to buy his car," Taylor eventually agreed to sell.
This purchase sparked a friendship between Hamilton and Taylor, leading to regular exchanges about cars and projects. Two months later, while watching the V2 channel, Hamilton saw Alex use the 645 as an example of a car with a good Car Vertical report. His immediate response? Message Taylor asking if he could buy it.
The BMW was destined for an AutoAlex video featuring V8 cars under £3,000. Hamilton managed to secure it for just £2,000, but there was a catch. The car had been sitting off the road since 2017, despite running. What followed was an extensive recommissioning project.
Hamilton's approach to the 645 was methodical. Working with his master mechanic Matt in North Devon, they tackled everything needed to get the car through its MOT and back on the road. The list was comprehensive: new springs, rear suspension work, fresh battery, new tires, brake work, and a full service including spark plugs, oils, and filters.
Hamilton got the car in February 2025 and managed to get it road legal after its extended hibernation. The last MOT had been in 2016, making it nearly a decade since the car had seen proper road use.
What makes this 645 truly special isn't just its rarity, but how the manual transmission transforms the driving experience. As Hamilton discovered during his test drive with manual BMW specialist Mike Fernie, the six-speed manual gives the car a completely different character compared to the automatic variants.
The 4.4-liter V8 produces 330 horsepower and has what Hamilton describes as a distinctly American character. It's lazy at idle but comes alive when you work the gears properly. The manual transmission, while not having the shortest throw, requires the driver to learn its quirks to extract the best performance.
Mike Fernie, known for his manual E61 M5 conversion, was immediately impressed. After driving the car, he noted how the manual gearbox helps you connect with the engine's character in a way the automatic simply can't match. The car rewards proper technique and punishes lazy shifting, creating an engaging driving experience that's been lost in most modern GTs.
After getting the 645 road ready and taking it to Food and Fuel, Hamilton made the ambitious decision to pull the engine for valve stem seal work. As of August 2025, the engine is out of the car but about to be reinstalled in preparation for DriveTribe Live.
This level of commitment to a £2,000 car might seem excessive, but for Hamilton, it represents something special. The E63 6 Series has aged remarkably well, and finding one with a manual transmission makes it a genuine unicorn in today's market.
The manual 645 represents the last gasps of an era when BMW still offered proper manual transmissions in their grand touring cars. With only 218 examples believed to exist, Hamilton's car is part of an exclusive club that becomes more significant as time passes.
The E63 6 Series was controversial when new, with many criticizing its styling. However, like many BMWs, it has aged gracefully and is now coming into its own as a future classic. The manual transmission elevates it from a comfortable cruiser to something approaching a sports car, at least in character if not outright performance.
Hamilton's 645 story perfectly captures the appeal of slightly left-field automotive choices. It's not the obvious pick, it's not the newest or most powerful option, but it offers something increasingly rare in modern motoring: genuine engagement and character.
For enthusiasts seeking an alternative to the obvious choices, the manual 645 represents compelling value. Even factoring in the recommissioning work, Hamilton's total investment remains remarkably reasonable for what you get: a rare, characterful V8 GT with a proper manual transmission.
The fact that he's willing to pull the engine for preventative maintenance shows the level of commitment these cars inspire in their owners. It's not just transportation; it's automotive enthusiasm in its purest form.
As Hamilton continues the restoration and prepares for DriveTribe Live, his 645 stands as a reminder of what makes car ownership special. Sometimes the most rewarding automotive experiences come from the road less traveled, especially when that road has a clutch pedal.