CAtuned wraps up another BMW E30 project for the USA

California-based workshop CAtuned, famous for restoring countless European automotive classics for North America, has presented one of its most recent works – a BMW 3-Series (E30) swapped to a cool 450-horsepower engine.

The coupe, which rolled off the assembly line in the distant year 1987, was resprayed in a shade called Daytona Violet a.k.a. “Grape”. It was then outfitted with an M Technic 1 body kit and a slew of tasteful retro parts. Our favorites include DTM-style carbon mirror caps, door handles with “BMW Motorsport” inscribed on them, and a Kamei trunk spoiler at the rear end.

16-inch, Y-spoke Rotiform wheels slotted snugly into the arches thanks to new air-ride suspension. While they were at it, CAtuned replaced the stabilizers and the control arms with modern counterparts.

A six-cylinder block borrowed from a US-spec E36 BMW M3 was put under the hood along with a supercharger driving it to roughly 456 PS (450 hp / 335 kW). The supercharger was later removed, so we don’t know how much thrust exactly goes to the wheels, but it has to be more than the E30’s standard 243 PS (240 hp / 179 kW).

A peek inside the cabin reveals Recaro seats draped in fabric, a revamped dashboard and a center console clad in black leather. The headliner makes use of some fine Alcantara, and the steering wheel sports a wooden rim.

The pricing details are unknown.