1 of 500 BMW M3 Evolution goes under the hammer for £55k

A rare 1988 BMW M3 Evolution in an E30 body fetched 55,000 GBP at a recent online auction in Great Britain. What makes it worth the price of a modern sports car? Let’s find out.

The original Evolution model debuted at a Frankfurt Motor Show more than three decades ago (see video). A total of 500 units were produced, with the example sold just now being #183. The car had a grey exterior with a sports body kit, lightweight bumpers, special wheels, a rear spoiler, and thinner glass all around.

The catless 2.3-liter four-cylinder (BMW S14) pumps out 220 PS (217 hp / 162 kW), which represents an improvement over the original design. The car is marked as ‘EVO2’ and uses manual transmission to get from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.7 seconds. The top speed lies at 240 km/h (149 mph).

The record lists three owners who have driven the M3 Evolution for around 163,000 kilometers (101,200 miles) total. There is rust on some of the bodywork, and tires need replacing. The car has gone through an overhaul recently, during which suspension, gearbox, radiator and fuel lines were repaired.