The M3 from it's introduction in 1986 was BMWs Group A touring car of choice replacing the 635 CSi's that had formed the basis of BMWs touring car efforts from 1983 to 1985. Developed from the E30 3-series, the M3 had flared wheel arches, a unique boot lid with a large spoiler, side skirts and a front airdam, plus the rear windscreen was more raked than on the regular 2 door versions of the E30 3-series. In fact the only body panel shared with the regular 3-series was the bonnet. All these changes combined to improve the aerodynamics of the car, mostly in the form of increased downforce and hence better roadholding.
The first M3s had a 2.3 litre DOHC in-line four cylinder engine with 4 valves per cylinder producing around 192bhp in the first roadgoing versions of the car. The engine was a development of the famous M10 4 cylinder BMW engine which featured in the BMW 2002, and which was turbocharged to great effect in the 2002 Turbo. It also formed the basis of BMWs Turbocharged 1.5 litre Formula 1 engine which powered Nelson Piquet to his second drivers championship in 1983.
In 1986, Group A rules stated that 5000 roadgoing versions of the racing car had to be built and sold to the public which BMW duly did. To develop the race cars further, 500 "evolution" models could to be made with the updated parts, bodywork and engines, and this led to several "Evolution" M3s being built for sale, which are now very sought after by BMW enthusiasts. The last E30 M3s made between 1990 and 1991 were the "Sport Evolution" cars which featured 2.5 litre versions of the original car's 2.3 litre engine and which produced up to 238bhp in the roadgoing versions of the car.
The M3 was a huge success on the track, being considered one of the most successful touring car racers ever. M3s won the European Touring Car Championship in 1987 and 1988, the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM, or German Touring Car Championship) twice in 1987 and 1989, and the once off World Touring Car Championship in 1987. E30 series M3s won the 24hrs race at the Nurburgring 4 times in a row between 1989-1992, and won the Guia Touring Car race at Macau 5 times in 1987-88 and 1991-1993. The famous 24hr touring car race at Spa in Belgium was won by the E30 M3 4 times between 1987-88 and in 1990 and 1992.
The M3 never won the premier Australian touring car race, the Bathurst 1000km. However, 1967 Formula 1 World Champion Denny Hulme died at the wheel of his M3 during the 1992 Bathurst 1000km after suffering a fatal heart attack. He managed to bring the car to a halt against the crash barriers and on the grass before he died.
In creating the M3 BMW developed a world beating racing car and a fantastic performance car for the road. Many enthusiasts still consider the original M3 to be one of the finest performance cars BMW have made to date.
This particular M3 is the Sport Evolution model with a 2.5 litre engine as driven by Franz Engstler in the 1992 DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft or German Touring Car Championship). In 1992, the M3s were producing something like 370bhp in race trim, driving through the rear wheels. This managed to keep the car competitive against the newer Mercedes and Audi opposition despite the fact that the M3 had been around for almost 6 years by 1992. Engstler did not win any of the rounds in that years DTM and finished in 16th place in the final championship standings. The car to beat in '92 was the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Evo II, one of which driven by Klaus Ludwig won the championship that year.
Minichamps I'm certain chose to model this version of the racing M3 for it's amazing sponsorship scheme rather than it's unremarkable race history. I can see why too as the green with white spots "Tic-Tac" livery is amazing! The Engstler car was released (in 2004) as a BMW exclusive dealer edition that was available in BMW packaging through the parts department of BMW dealers. Another Tic-Tac sponsored M3 driven in the 1992 DTM by Alexander Burgstaller was also released in 2004 by Minichamps as a regular hobby shop release. The hobby shop version is very similar with green instead of white wheels and carries the number 35 instead of 36.
Minichamps first introduced their 1:18th range of E30 M3s in 2003. As of 2007 I think they are holding up well as quality 1:18ths which still impress me. The bodywork and scale appear spot on and one area I feel Minichamps got absolutely right are the front grill and headlights. AUTOart also make an excellent model of the E30 M3 in road and race trim which is better than the earlier Minichamps models in many ways, but the Minichamps looks more accurate on the front end than the Aa model does.
Interior detail is good but it has unrealistic seatbelts made from plastic/rubber instead of real fabric strips. As mentioned above the lights look very realistic and the engine detail is not bad either. The Tic-Tac paint scheme is very nicely replicated on the model. Overall a great model from Minichamps and of great appeal to BMW and touring car collectors.
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