BMW 320i Resto Mod, 1979
BMW 3 Series I (E21)
BMW 3 Series I (E21)•
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Chassis No.: 5416798
Auction: Monterey 2016
Auction date: August 20, 2016
Lot No.: F180
$18,700 | Sold
- Exterior: Yellow
- Interior: Black
- Body: Resto Mod
- Resto Mod BMW 320i
- 24,380 miles
- Dinan-tuned 4.6 liter V-8 engine (originally a BMW 4.0 liter V-8)
- Golf Yellow exterior
- Black interior
- Upgraded Ground Control coilover suspension
- Ireland Engineering Sway Bars
- 4-wheel Brembo big brakes with full floating rotors
- 50-state exhaust system with BMW mufflers and catalysts
- Rare forged two-piece Fikse wheels produced by Dinan
- E30 M3 front and rear bumpers
- E36 M3 mirrors
- Recaro seats
- Alpine audio system
- Extensive use of BMW points
- Two-owner car
- Performance BMW Magazine cover car
- Must be sold to an out of state resident or licensed dealer
BMW has long encouraged owners to enhance the already formidable performance and driving dynamics of their cars and some people have taken the advice to fanatical levels. This BMW 320i Coupe is an example of just that and stands out as one of the most extreme 320is we’ve ever seen. Born of humble roots, the 320i had a big job before it – to take the place of the revered 2002, a car that proved it didn’t have to be small and uncomfortable to be sporty and fun. The 320i was longer and wider and provided a better ride and more interior space than the 2002. It also appeased the new American safety and emissions requirements. In fact, the 320i ran so clean it didn’t need a catalytic convertor.
Introduced in the USA in 1977, two years after the European market, the 320i was a smash hit. People who grew up with the 2002 graduated to the 320i seamlessly. Naysayers of the 320i’s otherwise larger and slightly less sprightly proportions praised the car for the drivability, comfort, technological upgrades and matured status. Featured on the cover of Performance BMW magazine, this 1979 320i was painted in screaming Golf Yellow and uses E30 M3 front and rear bumpers and E36 M3 mirrors to streamline and modernize the overall look. The original engine was replaced with a BMW 4.0L V-8 tuned by Dinan to 4.6L and uses a complete BMW muffler and catalyst system, making it 50-state legal.
With this exorbitant amount of excess power, handling and control was paramount and came courtesy of a Ground Control coilover suspension, Ireland Engineering sway bars, 4-wheel Brembo big brakes with full floating rotors and rare forged two-piece Fiske wheels also by Dinan. The interior is black with Recaro seats and an Alpine audio system. A two-owner car, it’s covered 24,380 miles and exhibits extensive use of BMW points in the build. If ever there was a Hot Rod BMW, this is it.
