1989 BMW E30 M3 Johnny Cecotto

The pedigree of the original E30 M3 is obvious all the way from its race bred four cylinder motor ( designed to rev past 9000 RPM in race form) and dog leg five speed gearbox to those wheel arch blisters, specified not to look cool on the Kings Road but to accept slick tyres of up to 10in in width. It has a design purity and simplicity of specification that hardly any modern car, and certainly not a new M3 could hope to match. Sure todays M3 has double the power but it isn't all about BHP. To really get the M3 you need to get behind the wheel and drive one, and really drive it. Get hold of it by the scruff of the neck and give it the full monty and you'll be approaching automotive nirvana. Today the E30 M3 in any of its iterations is a wonderful device, but it's the way the car handles combining brilliantly crisp turn in with unlikely stability and poise, that truly puts you in the seat of a car that, in its short life won a dozen touring car championships across the globe and made it without doubt BMWs finest car ever.

The car offered here today is a hugely desirable Cecotto Limited Edition and is number 230 of a 505 limited build by BMW. We are informed by the vendor that this stunning car finished in Macau Blue with contrasting black leather interior has recently been the subject of a £4700 overhaul by well-known BMW specialist Classic Heroes, which included replacing the all-important timing chain tensioner, a full inspection II service, new clutch assembly, clean and waxoyl both body sills, and many other items all of which are detailed on the bill from Classic Heroes. Originally supplied to the German market there is documentation indicating F193 DDY was imported into the UK in 1989 and has since then been maintained by either main dealer or independent BMW Specialist.

We are told that the mileage of just under 82000 miles is warranted, and is supported by previous MOT certificates and and service bills from both the UK and Germany and also includes the original Fahrzeugbrief. It is reported to fire readily from cold with no blue smoke or nasty knocks or rattles, it drives both smoothly and swiftly with beautifully weighted steering and firm brakes that track both straight and true. All electrics and gauges work perfectly and when warm the temperature gauge sits at exactly 80 degrees and never moves. All is well under the bonnet, both engine oil and engine coolant are clean and fresh and all other fluid levels are exactly as per manufacturer's specification, all hoses are clean and supple.

The beautiful Macau Blue Metallic bodywork is very straight, the gloss of its paintwork is deep, and its shut lines and gaps are reassuringly symmetrical and narrow, The result is a car that's about as good as you can get for an E30 M3, it really is a beautiful car, it has a simple elegance that is unfound in a modern BMW, the original supplying dealer hand pack is complete with all original paperwork and booklets. Sold with an MOT until July 2015 this really is a stunning motoring icon that is ready to be shown or driven and enjoyed in equal measures.