The BMW M3 first broke cover in 1985.

By March of the following year, production had begun in earnest of the 5,000 examples required to homologate the model for the DTM series.

Though it bore a striking resemblance to its base-model counterpart, many of the components were unique to the M3, including most body panels, brakes, and the 2,302-cc, four-cylinder S14 engine that lay at its heart.

Continually improved, the series peaked with the arrival of the Sport Evolution, a limited edition run of M3s that boasted an uprated 2,467 cc engine, adjustable front and rear splitters, and brake cooling ducts in place of the usual foglamps.

Just 600 of these highly desirable variants were produced between December 1989 and March 1990.

This example was completed on 25 January 1990 and delivered via Helm Glöckler of Frankfurt am Main, where a handover inspection was carried out on 18 July 1990.

The 2,000-kilometre first service took place a week later, followed by 14 service stamps in the int...