Chassis no. WBAAK07050AC79122

In 1974 racing great Hans-Joachim Stuck was photographed at speed on the legendary Nürburgring in his BMW 3.0 CSL "Batmobile" with all four wheels squarely off the track, fully airborne. The power of that image is unmistakable as it speaks to all that BMW's legendary racing division stands for. The BMW M1 that followed in limited production made "M Power" available for the road, but it was arguably the E30 generation M3, introduced in 1986, that firmly planted BMW's flag globally as a leading manufacturer of race-derived sporting cars, and, with it, that unmistakable combination of BMW rear-wheel drive with a high-revving, naturally aspirated motor.

The E30 M3 was intended as a homologation special to satisfy Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) requirements as well as those of the FIA Group A Touring championship, which required 5,000 total units in the first year. Victory came quickly at home and abroad, as the M3 racked up countless championships and won the Nürburgring 24 hours five times over the next eight years - a stunning achievement of motorsport victory that M3s have carried on ever since.

Surely among the most desirable iterations of the E30 M3 was the "Sport Evolution." Only 600 were made, as BMW adjusted to year-to-year homologation requirements and the M3 improved alongside them. Under the hood, beneath those unmistakable red spark plug covers, sits a naturally-aspirated S14 inline-four cylinder engine with an iron block and shortened head directly from the M1's inline six. In fact, a four-cylinder was chosen because it saved weight and was capable of revving higher, but the Sport Evo enjoyed increased bore and a different crankshaft, increasing displacement to 2 ½ liters, and output along with it, to 238 hp at 7,000 rpm. The motor was mated to a five-speed Getrag gearbox and all that power was brought to a halt with improved brake rotors and calipers. The M3-specific bodywork was of course also unique, as the car basically only shared a hood with a standard E30 3 Series road car. Aggressively boxed and widened fenders, a three-position rear wing, and a trunklid that sits higher for improved airflow over the more steeply raked rear window were all critical improvements. Add to that the red accents, brake-cooling ducts, and lower stance of the Sport Evo, and the casual observer is left with the most menacing BMW M car to date.

Built in 1990 for the German market, this particular Sport Evolution was subsequently exported to the UK, where it remained for much of the early 2000s and for which extensive service history remains on file, along with numerous MOT certificates. The car was brought Stateside several years ago and has since resided in a prominent American collection, along with numerous other sports cars, wherein it has received the very best care and climate controlled storage. As expected, the car presents tremendously well and during a recent inspection also ran and drove without issue. The interior features fantastic Evo-specific tri-colored upholstery with Recaro bucket seats, red seat belts, as well as optional electric sunroof, power windows, and rear sunblind. Interested parties are encouraged to review the car's history file and speak with a Collectors Garage specialist. Although the word "iconic" is admittedly overused in the collector car industry, there is perhaps no better descriptor for the E30 generation BMW M3. This M3 Sport Evolution truly represents the very best of an exceptional breed.

INTERESTED PARTIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT COLLECTORS GARAGE AND REVIEW ALL AVAILABLE HISTORIC DOCUMENTATION.