Online auction platform Collecting Cars has opened the bidding on ‘The M Collection’, a curated selection of 28 collector-grade and historically significant BMW M cars for sale around the globe.
Headlined by the very first M car, the rare 1980 BMW M1, the listings include more than AU$3 million worth of cars for sale in Europe, Africa, and the APAC region.
The flagship M1 is located in Johannesburg, South Africa and comes wearing a vibrant shade of Henna Red. One of just 399 road-going examples produced, it boasts a 3.5-litre ‘M88’ straight-six engine and ‘dog-leg’ five-speed manual ’box with 83,784km on the odometer.
Four Australian cars make the cut, with the most enticing a locally-delivered, New South Wales-based 1999 Z3 M Roadster finished in Estoril Blue.
The other Aussie listings are all newer examples of the M breed: a 2017 ‘G80’ M3 Competition in Victoria, a 2017 X6 M from NSW, and a 2021 X5 M Competition First Edition also in NSW.
Not too far from our shores, there’s a Hong Kong-based 2003 ‘E46’ M3 CSL. It’s one of four E46 CSLs among the listings, with two other right-hand drive examples on offer in England and a left-hook version available in Germany.
Fans of the E46 will also note a manual, ‘Individual’ specification 2002 M3 located in Lyon and a 2002 M3 Convertible in London, along with a 2005 M3 CS in Madrid and a manual 2006 M3 Convertible in Denmark.
There’s also a pair of 2011 1M Coupés available in England, where you’ll also find two Estoril Blue Z3 M Coupés.
The oldest car among the listings – and the only car that isn’t technically an M model – is a 1972 ‘E9’ 3.0 CSL located in the Netherlands. Another rarity is a 1988 ‘E30’ M3 Convertible, one of just 781 built and located in its native Munich.
Bidding on ‘The M Collection’ is set to close this Sunday, April 28, with all 28 listings able to be viewed on the Collecting Cars website.
