Looking at collectable BMWs, what does R900 000 get you? A late model used M3 or M4, or a slightly battered M5? Nope, try a mint 1991 325iS Evo 2.
Early in December, local auctioneers Creative Rides in Johannesburg put several exotics under the hammer, including the headlining 1969 Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 Vantage as well as a 1971 BMW 3.0L CSL.
The Aston – one of only 77 right-hand drive models ever made – fetched R4,4 million (considered a bargain) and the BMW R1,275 million.
The CSL, however, wasn’t BMW’s real star of the show. Instead, that honour went to a 1991 325iS Evo 2, which went for R900 000 put up by its future KZN-based owner. With only 508 units ever made, a number which includes the Evo 1 – the 325iS Evo 2 was exclusively built for the South African market; and was equipped with several factory-fitted go-faster bits to battle in Group N against the Opel Kadett GSI 16V Superboss – what an era of motorsport!
The BMW tickles the scales at just 1 147 kg and its Alpina-tuned 2,7-litre, 12-valve, naturally aspirated straight-six develops 154 kW @ 5220 r/min and 265 N.m of peak torque @ 4040 r/min, sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. Sure, these stats can be had by a mundane SUV but when paired with the feathery body weight and iconic 80s lines, the numbers seem to fade into obscurity as this Bavarian machine was made to perform for a petrolhead.
Furthermore, the body rides 10 mm lower than the Evo 1 and features an underbody splitter to improve front aerodynamics. Top speed was clocked at an impressive-for-the-time 226 km/h while the sprint from standstill to 100 km/h took 7,42 seconds (note that the latter time does include two, manual gear changes).
It cost R120 000 when new so this could potentially set a trend for the highly appreciating model. In its December 1991 road test, CAR magazine predicted the Evo 2 would become a highly sought-after future classic.
How right we were!
