EU Market Find: 1 of 50 Swiss BMW E30 M3 Johnny Cecotto Edition

What: 1990 BMW M3 Johnny Cecotto Limited Edition
Color: Macao Blue Metallic (macaoblau; metallic uni; 250; BMW)
Chassis #: 06HRN5 | 1941915
Mileage: 71,804 km, 44,616 miles
Price: €149,950
CarFax: N/A
Window Sticker: N/A
Location: DTM Collectibles, Hilversum, Netherlands
Auction Link: Link

Why We Love It:

The E30 generation M3 is already one of the most sought-after classic BMWs on the planet, now throw in one of the rare limited editions and that compounds the value to enthusiasts – particularly enthusiasts of the 80s “rad-era” variety. In this case, the E30 M3 in question is a 1990, one the Johnny Cecotto Limited Edition models, and one of just 50 to be sold to in Swiss specification.

For the uninitiated, Johnny Cecotto was a multi-talented professional driver of Italian and Venezuelan decent who won the motorcycle racing world championship at just 19 years old, and would later compete in F1 and the DTM where he raced for BMW in the E30 M3. Due to his success there and apparent participation int he development of the E30 M3 road car, BMW introduced this special edition as a tribute to him and unveiled it in 1989.

BMW M created a video featuring Johnny Cecotto talking about the car and his career with BMW. Watch it here.

The Johnny Cecotto Edition boasted several notable changes, including an upgraded 215 horsepower version of the BMW’s S14 2.3-liter engine, plus larger front splitter and revised rear wing that would later also be used by the M3 Sport Evolution. Thinner side and rear glass helped reduce weight, while components like valve covers and intake manifold were color-matched to the car and the centers of the car’s 16-inch BBS 2-piece wheels were painted black. Body colors available were limited to Misano Red, Nogaro Silver and Macao Blue like this car. A plaque showing his name could be found on the center console.

Over its production run, BMW built 5,000 E30 M3s, which qualify as a homologation special having been produced explicitly to meet production requirements in order to compete in the German DTM touring series. Over the course of production, 480 Johnny Cecotto Edition M3s were built, with another 25 similar cars built as tribute to fellow M3 DTM driver Roberto Ravaglia. Interestingly, it would be Ravaglia who netted BMW a championship in 1989, while Cecotto’s best BMW DTM season result was as runner-up in 1990 when this car was manufactured.

Back to this car, it is a great specification from the factory, with Macao Blue Metallic paint and grey interior including rare grey M Tech fabric seat centers, a design that was unique to the special edition M3s including the Cecotto and the Evolution. M Tech is more commonly found in black, with reproductions available in the market.

Making this car a little more unique is the fact that it was built to Swiss specification. Only 50 cars were imported into Switzerland, and this Macao Blue example was one of those cars. It was delivered first to a dentist in Zürich, who later sold it to the final previous owner more than 20 years ago. The paint is said to be original.