You don’t have to choose a Ferrari F40 or a Lamborghini Countach if you’ve ever wanted to drive the coolest car ever made. Instead, you can get behind the wheel of an E30 M3 (well, it’s challenging to find one) and stomp on the throttle to experience what the first-generation M3 was to drive. The E30 M3 was introduced in 1986 as a homologation model to satiate the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft) and Group A Touring rules. The E30 M3 became a motoring icon for its indomitable performance in Group A Touring races and even the 24 Hours Nürburgring. While it is not the fastest car around anymore, nor is it effortless to find, a 1989 iteration of the M3 is up for auction, and it could sell for a decent price.

Based on the E30 3 Series, the M3 was strengthened with a more powerful engine, a lighter body, and optimized for better aero. Unlike the modern M3s, the earlier ones were two-door coupes but had four seats for added practicality. It was called God’s Chariot for its unbeaten dominance in the world of racing. The first-gen M3 was a race-bred coupe with a broader body, flared wheel arches, a rear spoiler, a stiffer suspension, and a beast of an engine acquired from Formula 1. Compared to the standard 3 Series, these enhancements made it one of the best road cars created by BMW, which was meant to do track sessions and could be used for daily driving.

The E30 M3 was not initially powered by a straight-six engine, originally, but by a highly capable four-pot. Code named S14, the 2.3-liter naturally aspirated unit was built to rev happily, and it had an M1-derived S38 engine’s cylinder head. This 16-valve four-pot was capable of churning out up to 235 horsepower without the need for forced induction. Unfortunately, due to emission regulations, the U.S. got the slightly underpowered 192-horsepower variant of the M3, but Car and Driver still managed to do 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds. Of course, the numbers are nothing exhilarating by today’s standards, but it was an untamable beast back then.

This 1989 iteration of the M3 has a Diamond Black Metallic finished exterior and aftermarket 17-inch Style 42 wheels. However, it could also be a great-sounding E30 M3 thanks to an aftermarket Eisenmann exhaust system. The current owner has replaced the suspension system with stiffer springs and added a thicker anti-roll bar in the rear. The engine remains untouched from modifications. However, in 2019, the valve cover gasket, upper oil pan gasket, timing chain tensioner, and spark plugs were replaced. The pristine-looking M3 has been driven for 38,000 miles which is pretty low mileage for a car that is over three decades old.