Chassis No. WBSAK05010AE40578

Cecotto Serial No. 354/505

The BMW M3, based on the popular E30 3-Series, was developed to meet FIA Group A touring car regulations, requiring 5,000 road-going versions. Debuting at the 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show, it quickly became a success on the track and street, dominating touring car championships worldwide and becoming a fan favorite performance car.

Toward the end of the 1980s, a line of exclusive special edition M3s was created. Among them was 1989 BMW M3 Cecotto so named after Venezuelan racing legend Johnny Cecotto. The Venezuelan was a rare breed, as successful on two wheels as four and first known for his impressive career in motorcycle racing, including winning the 1975 350 cc World Championship at just 19. Later Cecotto transitioned to four-wheel racing, joining BMW in 1982 and later racing in Formula One with the Toleman team in 1984. After a crash that ended his Formula One career, Cecotto returned to BMW, achieving success in touring car racing, including the Italian Touring Car Championship in 1989.

Cecotto's special edition was available in three colors, Macao Blue, Misano Red, or Nogaro Silver. This example, serial number 354, is finished in Misano Red over a black leather BMW M-sports interior. The Cecotto M3 featured technical enhancements over the standard M3 as well, including a more powerful version of the "S14B23" 2.3-liter engine with 215-horsepower, and several subtle visual upgrades such as black BBS mesh wheels, thinner side and rear glass, a revised rear wing, and a color-matched valve cover. These cars were numbered with engraved placards, with only 505 units produced.

Today this highly collectible Cecotto E30 M3 is offered with just over 123,000 kilometers at the time of cataloging. Furnished with its first aid kit, a warning triangle, owner's manual, brochure, and trunk-mounted tool kit, this rarely seen special edition is a well-preserved example sure to fascinate not only BMW enthusiasts, but virtually any racing enthusiast of two wheels or four.