Guide: BMW E30 M3 Evolution 1 — Supercar Nostalgia

Background

BMW Motorsport created the E30-based M3 to compete in the inaugural 1987 World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).

The new model replaced BMW’s 635 CSi as the firm’s touring car of choice; the handsome but ageing 635 had secured an array of titles between 1981 and 1986, most notably the European Touring Car Championship crowns in 1981, 1983 and 1986 (ETCC).

At the time, all major Touring Car championships were run to Group A regulations. To qualify for Group A, a manufacturer had to build at least 5000 road-going examples of the car they wanted to race within a twelve month timeframe.

E30 M3 production began in September 1986 and BMW had hit the 5000 car requirement inside six months. Homologation was approved on March 2nd 1987.

Like the more extreme Group B category, Group A permitted manufacturers to produce further enhanced Evolution variants of their homologated vehicle every twelve months. A first Evolution was allowed as soon as the initial homologation had been granted. To qualify, 500 cars had to be built, once again within a twelve month period.