1986 BMW E30 M3 Rally Car (FIA)

• Originally raced as a touring car by team Schnitzer - driven in period by works driver Jonny Cecotto, as well as Patrick Slaus and L.Pensis
• Interestingly the car boasts a genuine motorsport shell with full Matter cage - M3-120607
• Now a turn-key, ultra-competitive, potential podium rally car with a 2.3-litre full Group A engine by Delage Sport (290bhp at 8,800rpm on 99 RON fuel)
• Impressive specification and ready to rally in any global championship

The M3 was first introduced in 1986 and was the first-ever production saloon designed specifically for racing and rallying that could also be road registered and bought new with a warranty. All cars were left-hand drive, regardless of the supplying country, and they were built in limited numbers and priced at a premium level as the most expensive of the 3-Series range.

In competitions, the car was to become a legend immediately ~ winning several European and World Touring Car Championships, as well as a round of the World Rally Championship.

BMW Motorsport built a limited number of competition only shells which were prepared for them by Matter in Germany and came in full Group A form with a Motorsport chassis number and a unique Matter body shell number. They were distributed to noted teams of the day, including Bigazzi in Italy, Schnitzer in Germany and in the UK - Prodrive in Banbury.

Unlike most of the E30 M3s competing in FIA historic rallies today, this car is a genuine original period Motorsport shell and has the full Matter cage and unique identity number M3-120607. Originally raced as a touring car by team Schnitzer - and driven in period by 'Works' driver Jonny Cecotto, as well as Patrick Slaus and L.Pensis.

Converted into a rally car later in its life, it was acquired by our vendor and imported into the UK in 2016 to be fully prepared for European FIA tarmac historic events by the highly respected preparer, Richard Lepley of Prepfab. Developed and enjoyed in European historic rallying ever since, the car has enjoyed considerable success, both here and abroad and is a well known regular and very competitive car. It is built to correct and legal FIA spec and has full FIA papers allowing it to compete anywhere in the world.

The spec today includes:

• 2.3 Full Group A engine by Delage Sport France giving 290bhp at 8,800rpm on 99 RON fuel
• This engine has completed 450km since last being rebuilt by Prepfab and since been checked for compression prior to sale (with tappets also checked) and has passed a full leakdown test with no issues reported. Engine spec includes a full carbon airbox, big front pulley kit, big-wing 6-litre baffled sump, original BMW Motorsport ECU, alloy large capacity radiator and Delage side exit exhaust (with the 100DB FIA spec rear exit exhaust available for the purchaser to collect).
• The gearbox is the FIA spec and fully homologated 6-speed Samsonas which has just been rebuilt and is offered with 0 miles running. (the original 6-speed Sadev comes with the car - buyer to collect)
• The differential is a 210mm c/w Gripper LSD that has just been overhauled by Prepfab with new bearings, plates and re-shimmed and filled with fresh oil. The competition driveshafts with new Motorsport joints have covered just 200km of competitive running.
• The suspension includes Reiger Dampers (the best available) although the original Bilsteins are available with the buyer to collect post-sale. It has Prodrive rally uprights with 'Group A' arms and strengthened rear trailing arms and rear beam.
• Alcon homologated brake discs and calipers with Mintex F6R pads are fitted and a Bremax Motorsport wiring loom was new in 2016. The Advanced Systems fuel cell was new in 2016 and valid until 2022 and the Recaro competition seats are valid until 2023.
• A period matching lamp pod is also included with four spot lamps and the TRS harnesses are in date until 2022

In short, this is a rare and very special, turn-key ready to go, ultra-competitive FIA spec Historic tarmac M3 that, in the right hands, is a potential podium car. As an original Motorsport bodyshell, it is also a rare and highly collectable piece of motorsport history.