Quentin Willson sees merit in an early ‘Series’ BMW, spots another fast Ford on the up, and an absolute bargain in the Peugeot 306 Cabriolet
The somewhat unsung BMW E21 3 Series is finally starting to go up in value
With most classic BMWS creeping up in value we should revisit the E21 first-gen 3 Series. Much more influential and trendsetting than fast Fords or Gtis, the E21 hasn’t enjoyed anything like the same enthusiast affection or jump in prices. You can still buy proper low-mileage survivors for less than £7000.
In March, Brightwells sold a Cypress Green ’81 323i, refreshed after 25 years in dry storage, with 89,000 miles, factory alloys, sunroof and history for £6820. In the
‘The UK market is undervaluing the first-gen 3 Series’
same sale it knocked down a mint Alpine White ’82 316 auto with 60,000 miles, one owner for 22 years and ‘huge history’ for just £5040. A private seller in Norfolk has a very shiny and unmolested silver ’82 left-hook 316 manual with 75,000 miles, factory alloys, air-con, three owners, history and original paint for only £5500. The rare Baur convertibles look serious value, with YSJ Motorsport in Leicestershire offering a blue ’81 323i Baur with 18-year ownership, 95,000 miles and ‘lots of paperwork’ for £8990. Soon these prices will seem cheap as the supply of original well-kept E21s finally evaporates.
Pricing is all over the place, with temptingly-priced cars still popping up online. But there seem to be very few bargains in Europe, where sellers value their E21s massively more than we do. Nicholas Alexacos in Greece is advertising a lhd ’78 316 manual in Fjord Blue with 36,000 warranted miles for £17,000, while ER Classics in Holland has a lhd ’75 316 in Anthracite Grey, one owner, original paint, air-con, ‘lots of history and documentation’ and 56,000 miles for £16,900. Again in Holland, Alexander Strik Cars is offering a Champagne Gold left-hook ’79 manual 320 six cylinder, with 62,000 miles, 14 stamps in the service book and looking seriously lovely for £16,400. I believe the UK market is undervaluing the E21, so if you spot a fine genuine-mileage specimen – ideally a six-pot with sunroof and alloys – for less than £7k, snap it up. These pint-sized Eighties charmers won’t be going down in value anytime soon.