There are plenty of rare BMWs out there. The 3.0 CSL comes to mind. Those are becoming extremely difficult to find. However, there are Bimmers out there that are truly rare. As in, not many people even know they exist, which comes as no surprise since some of these are in single-digit serial numbers. One such car is the E46 BMW M3 GTR. This is its story.
Photo credit: BMW
The BMW M3 GTR Origin Story
Motorsports plays a major role in BMW’s development. They’ve always had a massive presence in a variety of racing events and leagues. A few decades back, BMW expressed interest in entering GT competitions in the US. It turns out that their standard offering at the time was simply not enough for this type of race. BMW had to do something, so they built an E46 M3 version with a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V8. However, the rules of the competition stated that any vehicle that enters the race has to be a production car.
BMW had no choice but to create a limited run of the BMW M3 GTR designated the Strassenversion, or street version. In total, only 10 of these cars were ever made, which was the minimum requirement imposed by the American Le Mans Series at the time. The change in these requirements is exactly what forced BMW to leave the competition after a short but powerful winning streak.
What Makes the M3 GTR Strassenversion Special?
To say that the M3 GTR was no ordinary M3 would be an understatement. Just about everything on this car was enhanced in some way to reach the levels of performance necessary for a proper GT race.
The engine was a specially developed V8 unit called the P60B40. This is a fully aluminum 4.0-liter V8 engine fitted with a dry sump system that delivers 355hp to the wheels. BMW had to detune the engine to make it road legal, as the GT racing version put out 450hp. Even so, there’s plenty of power in this motor. Plus, with the engine operating nowhere near its full potential, BMW had improved the reliability of the Strassenversion. A win-win situation for everybody.
Aside from the engine, many modifications were made to the body of the car. With a massive V8 in it, the M3 GTR ended up on the heavier side. To counter this, BMW has swapped a number of body panels with carbon fiber. The front and side skirts are completely different and designed to reduce drag. Overall, the Strassenversion of the M3 GTR brings 90% of what the track car is about.
How Rare is the M3 GTR Really?
Let’s put it this way. When BMW announced the sale of this model, the asking price was $250,000. All of them were sold except for one that’s sitting in a BMW museum. Of the 9 that were sold, none are for sale. In fact, we don’t even know where most of them are at the moment. Over the years, this car has become the holy grail for BMW collectors worldwide. With such high demand and virtually no supply, it’s very difficult to even put a price tag on one.
At the end of the day, this car will remain nothing more than a pipe dream for most BMW enthusiasts. That said, it’s a masterpiece that has a special place in automotive motorsports history. A flash of pure awesomeness that went as quickly as it came.
