Larger in waist and taste

And the same trio of descriptors could be used to describe this successor: the E34 M5. Although, it was peppered with a decidedly more luxurious layer to its constitution. This was the one to cement the persona of the M5 as a truly cosseting executive express — that just happened to be imbued with the authentic spirit of a pedigreed sports car, not only in terms of power, but dynamically too. It stuck to the recipe of the original, with a potent straight-six engine that produced as much as 250kW and 400Nm in its most advanced state before production ended in 1995. It was no slouch. In the flesh, the E34 cuts a rather unassuming profile alongside the other members sharing the bloodline. Aficionados know which highlights to look out for in the ensemble of low-key swagger.

This includes distinctive “throwing-star” wheels. If the E28 is covetable purely on the grounds of being the first of its kind, this follow-up has attained collectable status for being the last of its type. This was the final hand-built M5 and the last to employ a straight-six engine.