1977 BMW 320 Group 5

Visually vibrant and race ready by the looks of it, lots like this 1977 BMW 320 Group 5 from RM Sotheby’s don’t come about every day and, as you’d likely expect, it has a price tag to reflect this with a POA set for this one. This is a significant competition BMW wearing one of motorsport’s most iconic liveries and for anyone with a love of classic racing vehicles, it will be the crowning glory of any collection.

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This 1977 BMW 320 Group 5 from RM Sotheby’s is powered by a correct-type M12/7 four-cylinder engine capable of producing 330 horsepower which is testament to its impressive race performance. The lot has a period race history from the heyday of Group 5 and DRM and it comes accompanied by detailed restoration photographs, and a history file that consists of circuit sheets, period photographs, and relevant motorsport magazines.

Once its competition career had drawn to a close in late 1977, chassis R1-06 is thought to have spent some years on display in the window of a BMW dealership, prior to changing hands several times. The car eventually surfaced at a judicial auction in Annemasse, France in 2002, where it was offered in a disassembled state and in need of restoration. The painstaking restoration is described by the consignor as being “complete nut-and-bolt” and included the dismantling and sand blasting of all the vehicle’s components.

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The car is sold with a history file comprising 10 ring binders, containing circuit sheets, period photographs, and relevant motorsport magazines. A raft of spare parts is also included in the sale, among them spare differentials and wheels. Presenting wonderfully in its striking Jägermeister livery, this stunning 320 Group 5 is an icon from an often overlooked yet hugely memorable period of motorsport.

Leo Davie