The E30 BMW M3 is now a real collectors’ car, but unlike most old vehicles people end up collecting that are either too slow or far too unsuitable for modern traffic conditions, this is a sports car dressed up as a late 1980s 3-Series. However, it doesn’t really share that much with the standard car when it comes to its body, from which it only takes the basic body shell, roof and bonnet.

The very noticeable flared wheelarches, rev-happy 2.3-liter engine as well as the entire reworked mechanical side of the car are just some of the reasons which attracted owner Gabor Mester to crave one of these E30s, and ultimately buy one, as you will discover in the latest Petrolicious video, posted below. Be warned, though, it will make you want one too…

In fact, for Gabor, it wasn’t just any E30, but the one he had first seen, and had first caught his eye. He even admits that he wasn’t a car guy before, and that buying his black M3 with red leather interior changed all that.

After having bought it, he discovered that it’s a great-balanced driver’s car, with sharp handling, a punchy four-cylinder engine and classy looks, bolstered by the exaggerated wheelarches, which are easily the car’s visual trademark, the one which makes it stand out next to a regular BMW of the period.

By Andrei Nedelea

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