BMW M3 Group A For sale

Description

This fabulous M3 Group A was built by Linder, who gave it its own number: 007LI87, and was assembled on an early BMW Motorsport chassis, number M1-33. 

Founded by Ludwig Linder in 1982, the team built remarkable 323i and 325i Group A cars, this effort was sanctioned in 1987 when the team was appointed as one of the official BMW teams. For 1987, Linder entered two M3s in the ETCC, number 41 and 47. Linder, with its impressive driver line-up of Vogt, Heger, Quester and Oestreich, largely dominated the ETCC, winning both the Drivers' and Manufacturers' titles with one race remaining in the championship. Vogt was crowned European Champion, driving car number 41 for the first two races and then the car number 47. 

Following correspondence with BMW Classic, they believe that the 1987 Linder car number 008LI87 they have in their collection is number 47. This leaves our 007LI87 as the most likely number 41, which was used to win the first ETCC race at Donnington in 1987, driven by Vogt and Quester. Both Linder cars were also entered in the 24 Hours of Spa, with number 41 finishing 5th overall.

For 1988 the car was sold to the Anton Goeser Motorsport and driven in DTM by Strycek and Goeser. In May that year the car suffered an important crash at Brünn and the BMW Motorsport shell #64 replaced the #33, accordingly the Linder number 007LI87 was transferred to this new shell as recorded in the original ONS car pass logbook. The rebuilt car was now painted yellow and raced in the DTM. In 1989 it was sold as « 007LI87 » to an Italian racing driver, Casimirio Barbieri from Lago di Garda, who raced it in hill climbs until 1997. 

The next owner was an English enthusiast, James Abbott, who bought it in 1998 but did nothing with it.

In 2005 it was sold to a very well known motorsport engineer, who kept it until 2024. He painstakingly carried out a high quality restoration over several years, restoring it to its original 1987 Linder configuration.

Before being dismantled, 007LI87 was carefully inspected to ensure that it still had all the specific Linder parts and features, the bodywork was sandblasted and repainted in its original "Alpina Weiss", the engine was rebuilt by Pipo Moteurs and every single part was renewed or replaced. 

Completed in 2015, the car has since been carefully kept as a museum piece, but has been serviced and started frequently. Art & Revs has recently carried out a major service to ensure the car is in perfect condition for the track.

This rare and sensational M3 Group A comes with an interesting history file including the original Linder logbook from 1987, every bill of sale to date, letters and a photographic report of the restoration.

Ex factory M3's rarely come on the market and this is a sensational opportunity to acquire an extremely original example, fully documented and offered in pristine condition.