Book of Genesis

It all began with the shark-nosed E28 M5. Unlike the 530 MLE that preceded it, this was an out-and-out, specifically developed M-car. Not cobbled together as a homologation special to get a greenlight for racing pursuits.

Quick and focused saloons might be de rigueur in 2018. But the concept back then was revolutionary. Remember, things were simpler in 1985. People smoked in hospitals. BMW kindled a fire in the shark-nosed prow of their car by equipping it with the same engine from the M1 supercar. For an excitable motoring hack, experiencing the result is spectacular in the present tense.

So, imagine what it must have been like 33 years back, when BMW claimed a 0-100km/h sprint time of about 6.5 seconds. A current–day Volkswagen Golf GTI DSG will do it in 6.4 seconds. Goes without saying; but extracting the breadth of capability from the old M5 takes hard work.

The five-speed shifter is a tad recalcitrant, the clutch needs a stout left calf. And if you find yourself on the wrong end of a heroic manoeuvre, those skinny pillars and slim doors are not going to do much in terms of energy absorption. But this is a prime example to cite next time you feel like one of those rants about how contemporary cars are “too” polished. Yes, the original M5 is organic, immersive and mechanical.