April 27, 2009
Motorsport is a truly wondrous thing. Not only does it present us with the most enthralling and testosterone-bubbling sporting action (if we ignore Formula 1), but it can also result in a fantastic requirement: homologation. Forcing teams to make a car a production model rather than just a racing prototype has given us some of the world’s most desirable road cars: think McLaren F1, Ford GT40, Subaru Impreza 22v and BMW E30 M3 Evo – Performance BMW
In the past, BMW has been particularly sly in realising the public’s desire for such cars. It developed the E30 M3 to compete as a production-based car in motorsports, tapping into a huge market for these road-going racking machines. This was also Enzo Ferrari’s philosophy; if the public see the cars winning at the weekend, they’ll want to buy them come Monday.
The M3 was destined for touring car racing, and hit the track more or less in standard production form. Becoming 1987 World and European Touring Car Champion, as well as taking numerous Rally victories, did sales no harm whatsoever. The M3 though, was not the first road car built by BMW originally intended for the track.
Just a decade before the first M3 was revealed to the world, BMW had developed a road-going 2002 Turbo with Group 5 racing clearly in mind. It was a direct descendant of the turbocharged 275bhp 2002 that won the 1969 European Touring Car Championship, and in producing this awesome revelation, BMW pioneered the world’s first turbo engine in a production car.
The 2002 Turbo generated huge interest from the press and public alike. Since it was deemed too dangerous for the road by some journalists (it was practically a race car), it must be seen as the predecessor to the milestone E30 M3. If it wasn’t for the unfortunately timed Middle East oil crisis which led to fuel rationing in Europe, we would have seen the production of many more than merely the 1672 BMW 2002 Turbo example.
Since ‘race cars for the road’ is just about our ideal PBMW, we simply had to get an E30 M3 and 2002 Turbo together to test and compare these living legends. The number of privately owned 2002 Turbo’s remaining in this country is believed to be in single fitures, so we are most grateful to Rory Aherne for introducing us to his classic thoroughbred. Our M3 was borrowed from the brilliant Munich Legends in Sussex, a company whose showroom is nothing short of a MW enthusiast’s wet dream.
With the two cars parked together, it’s a shame the 2002 Turbo wasn’t the success story the M3 became. The older car certainly shows roots of its humble 1960s design, but looks hard as nails with its fat arches with visible rivets and ground-scraping front spoiler. The decals are an exception to the usual rule that all stickers are bad. The M colours and retro ‘70s ‘turbo’ lettering has too many desirable connotations to be considered tacky.
However, the 2002’s previous owner may have thought so. “I’ve put the decals back on,” says Rory. “The last owner removed them after he kept on getting stopped by police who knew exactly what this car was capable of. That was 15 years ago, though.”
Beside the M3, the 2002 Turbo looks just as inviting as its more familiar stablemate. It’s tiny 13″ Revolution wheels, thin frame and aggressive looks beg you to hop inside and give that M3 bully a run for its money. The interior exudes classy ‘70s style with the black leather seats and red dashboard display, and has weathered well considering it’s had 30 years of use.
Just touching the throttle hints at the 2002’s potential for speed. It pulls away fantastically well for a car of such age and, once we get past the turbo lag, a world of fun opens up. “The car used to have the original KKK turbo,” explains Rory. “However, being so primitive, and without an intercooler, it was never going to last forever. The replacement turbo is an IHI item from Terry Dury Racing Cars.” We are told the turbo lag has been greatly reduced with the IHI turbo, something the 2002 Turbo certainly needs.
The Turbo has a claimed 0-60 time of 6.7sec, but apparently it’s exceptionally tricky to release the full power potential. With decent boost not felt until 4500rpm, you’ve got to work hard for real results. Easy enough for motoring journalists 30 years ago, but with a cherished ageing rarity. Rory was obviously less eager to play on his 2002 Turbo red line.
The M3 was another matter, though. Munich Legends’ track day car is used to being driven to the limit, and at this limit it really is in a league of its own. Its stunning performance and handling capabilities cannot be put into words – it must be experience to be believed! On Turweston airstrip it was like releasing a prisoner of 25 years into the open again. The M3 really needs to be freed from the constraints of public road legislation to prove itself – Southend’s roundabouts could never do justice.
Armed with our Racelogic timing gear, we set out to discover the two cars’ acceleration times. The M3 has 12 years in its favour and 30 more horses under the bonnet, so predicting a winner was never going to be tricky. However, the kick you get in the 2002 Turbo as it nears the top end gives the impression it’s just as quick as its rival. For a 30 year old car to break the ten second barrier without really trying (Rory was sensibly reluctant to can the car), gave us good indication of how special this car must have been in the early ‘70s.
The M3 nearly broke the seven second barrier on it’s way to 60 – we’ve sure it would have done if the track had been dry instead of flooded – and soared and past three figures in next to no time. Fifteen years after its birth, the original M3 still has the capabilities to take on the most modern street challengers. Not only that, it still turns heads and makes grown men go weak at the knees, knowing the wife would never allow it. However, for bachelors and those that wear the daddy pants, you could pick yourself up a bargain road-legal race car which is a little piece of history.
Munich Legends is the place to go for M3s or any other work of genius BMW’s Munich factory produced. Contact the boys who know on 08125 740456.
http://originalm3.info/articles/living-legends/
