‘Stranger Things’ Fans Question Steve Harrington‘s BMW 733i: A Luxury Car for a Modest Family?
LOS GATOS, CA – A detail in the Netflix hit Stranger Things is sparking debate among fans: how high school student Steve Harrington came to own a 1983 BMW 733i. The German sedan, prominently featured in later seasons, represents a significant financial investment that appears inconsistent with the portrayal of Steve’s family.
In 1983, a BMW 733i cost $34,300 in the United States, equivalent to approximately €75,500 today when adjusted for inflation. This positions the vehicle firmly in the luxury car category.
While the series depicts Steve’s family as “modest,” ther’s no indication they possess the financial means for such a purchase. This discrepancy has led viewers to speculate about the car’s origins – a generous gift,a bargain used purchase,or simply a creative decision by the show’s writers.
The 733i, part of the first generation of BMW’s Series 7 (produced from 1977 to 1986), was designed to compete with the Mercedes S-Class and embodied BMW’s vision of luxury. It featured a 3.2-liter six-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower,power steering,soundproofing,and an automatic gearbox,making it “a machine to swallow the kilometers with disconcerting ease.”
Despite the unanswered question of its acquisition, the BMW 733i has resonated with fans, adding “an extra dose of retro authenticity” to the series and becoming “a star in his own right.”
