Ready your adenoids: a classic, very rare and rather desirable ‘E30’ series BMW M3 is coming up for auction.

This is the car of course, that gets The Internet in a bother; a classic from BMW’s history, borne out of motorsport and packing the kind of driving dynamics that gets enthusiastic helmsmen worked up.



It is, in short, an icon. Richard Hammond agrees.



So, about this car. It’s a ‘Johnny Cecotto’ edition, one of just 505 built by BMW, named after the former motorcycle and ex-Formula One racer who once partnered Ayrton Senna. He spent many years in touring cars spanking BMWs to kingdom come, too.



The car itself? This one came with the 2.3-litre four-pot with 212bhp, here with 82,000 miles on the clock, those Batman-spec wheels, front and rear spoilers, and that lovely rear wing.



BMW specialist Classic Heroes has recently conducted a £4,700 overhaul, too, replacing the timing chain tensioner, a new clutch assembly and ‘Inspection II’ service. It’s also had ‘waxoyl’ treatment to the body sills, and is said to fire “readily from cold”.



We’re told everything works as it should, the shut lines and panel gaps are perfect, and the Macau Blue bodywork is glossy and straight. The MOT runs out next July, so it’s good for a while.



In short then, it’s a bit special. Sure, it’s done a few miles, but then it is a rare M3. It’s up for grabs at Silverstone Auctions’ Autumn Sale that takes place this weekend (and includes that little Steyr Puch 500 we showed you last week). Prices? Between £35k and £40k. Possibly more.



Fancy it?

TopGear.com’s guide to the BMW M3