There are certain cars that you just know are going to be remembered as iconic, long before they have ceased production. There is just something about them that stirs the imagination of the buying public and fans of the brand alike, ensuring they remain in the pantheon of great cars from the company’s history.
When it was first unveiled, the BMW Z3 was, if not a complete departure for the Bavarian manufacturer, then at least an indication that they were perhaps losing some of their innate staid personality. Not that this personality hadn’t been discarded on occasion, thanks to models such as the M1, M635 CSi and the immortal M3.
These were, however, very definitely sporting models, both facilitating and trading on motorsport success. The idea that BMW could produce a “sports” model as much for style as performance was a relatively new concept. This impression was further enhanced by the fact that, for the first four years of production (1995-on), the Z3 was powered by a rather underwhelming four-cylinder engine, producing an anaemic 138 horsepower at best.
But, of course, this was BMW, and things would not be allowed to stay that way for too long. By 1999, the first inline six-cylinder engine had been installed, producing 148 horsepower and, from 2000-onwards, only “sixes” would be fitted to the Z3, with ever-increasing horsepower outputs.
However, this doesn’t tell the whole story because, in 1997, the famous ‘M’ badge was applied to both the Z3 convertible and the – possibly even prettier – Z3 coupe (1998-on). Finally, the diminutive sports car had the heart of a lion it had been crying out for, and it didn’t disappoint. Shoe-horning the physically large 3.2-litre inline six from the E36 M3 into the engine bay gave us a car that was the four-wheeled equivalent of a motorcycle.
Along with the bigger engine came a not-so-subtle re-style, which gave the car the same front end but a gloriously chunky rear end, with wide, deep-dish rear wheels and outrageously flared arches. Depending on your aesthetic sense, it was either ridiculously cartoonish or brilliantly aggressive.
If care had to be taken in the wet, in the dry, it was a formidable performer; 300+ horsepower, rear wheel drive, no electronic interventions and light weight will do that. The handling demanded respect, and it certainly wasn’t easy at the limit, but in the right hands and with an open road beckoning, there wasn’t much that came close.
It was cramped but stylish inside, and high fuel consumption allied to a small tank reduced its effectiveness as a long-distance car—a lack of luggage storage not helping there either, but who really cared?
Today, these limited-production cars (by BMW standards) are very collectable, which is why, when we spotted a beautiful black M Coupe at Carshop Rivonia, we didn’t need too much persuasion to take it for a spin. That this 26-year-old car is for sale at R739,990 gives some indication of both the rarity and the desirability of these pocket rockets.
Of course, this value and rarity do tend to limit the enthusiasm one displays when driving on public roads, amongst midday traffic, but even a self-imposed light right foot can’t disguise the available performance whenever there is a bit of clear road ahead, made all the more enjoyable thanks to a complete lack of turbocharging and the accompanying lag that can spoil initial acceleration.
The BMW inline six is one of the great automotive engines, and as bonkers as it is in this application, it’s just so much fun. With over 100,000 km on the clock, the manual gearbox needs care to ensure the next cog is meshed correctly before flooring the throttle and thrilling in the turbine surge, accompanied by the intoxicating engine howl. We had neither space nor inclination to test the on-the-limit handling, but there was nothing to suggest that it would be anything other than secure, there being no undue noises or movement in the suspension department. It is a car that requires deep knowledge of its controls and chassis to get the best out of it. Not that the new owner will likely do more than take it out and drive it sparingly, which is understandable.
But as a piece of motoring history, it is stunning. Not only is it beautiful on the outside, but open the bonnet and marvel at the view; huge engine in a tiny car, just the way it should be! It’s likely going to cost an arm and a leg to maintain and fix should the worst happen, but it also fulfils one of the most important criteria for any car or motorcycle; when you’ve got to your destination and shut off the engine, and you walk away, you can’t help turning round to have one last look. You’ll never get tired of it.
Our thanks to Carshop Rivonia for their help in compiling this article. The BMW M Coupe is, at the time of writing, for sale, but I wouldn’t wait long!
