The E21 generation BMW 3-series is sort of the forgotten little brother of the big cheese E30. Perhaps it is because the E21 never had a hyper-popular fanboy-drool-inducing M version, or Turbo graphic covered version like the 2002...but I dig the overbite fenders and sharp looking Hofmeister kink, and love the sport package front apron. Find this 1982 BMW 320iS E21 offered for $8000 in Redondo Beach, CA via craigslist.
This next car is a celebration of Bracq Friday -- a festival of the best stuff from French born automotive legend Paul Bracq. I know the days of getting a running/driving car for $500 are long behind us...and $500 will barely get you the parts to do your own brake job on a late model car...but I still hold hope for the occasional used pile of junk car that is cheap not because it is rusted out, but because only a few crazy people (myself included) would want it...and I think I found a good one today...although you will need to source a few key parts before getting it back on the road. Find this 1979 BMW 320i E21 offered for $500 in Richmond, CA via craigslist.
The E21 generation BMW 3-series is sort of the forgotten big brother of the big cheese E30. Perhaps it is because the E21 never had a hyper-popular fanboy-drool-inducing M version, or Turbo graphic covered version like the 2002, but the market for an E21 is affordable and they are simple machines...and that is a good thing. Find this 1979 BMW 320i offered for $4400 in Pasadena, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
Global sales of BMW's first 3-series started in the 1975 model year and by the time they switched factory operations to build the E30 version in 1983, over a million examples of the E21 had left the shipping dock. The E21 was not a cheap car when released, but the magic of depreciation made it an affordable classic for decades...and the uptick of collector nostalgia hasn't yet made them unaffordable. Find this 1978 BMW 320i offered for $2950 in Bethesda, MD via craigslist.
The E21 3-series is the middle child stuck between two BMW icons: 2002 and E30. The 320i was not a fast car when new and could be considered painfully slow by 2018 standards. The good news is that there are still sane asking prices out there for these unlike the newer E30. In addition, the 320i's have unmistakable vintage BMW styling that is arguably more handsome than a E30. A BWM 320i certainly will not be confused with being anything other than a BMW. Find this 1983 BMW 320i for sale in Bel Air, MD for $2,300 via craigslist.
Global sales of BMW's first 3-series started in 1975 and by the time they switched body stamping operations to build the E30 version in 1983, over a million examples of the E21 had left the factory. The significance of those production numbers were not lost on BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lincoln, Pontiac, Cadillac, or anybody else who wanted to sell premium luxury sport sedans in the early 80s. But today, the E21 is a forgotten classic and prices for nice examples aren't that bad. Find this 1981 BMW 320i offered for $8,000 near Los Angeles, CA via craigslist.
The E21 generation BMW 3-series is sort of the forgotten little brother of the big cheese E30. Perhaps it is because the E21 never had a hyper-popular fanboy-drool-inducing M version, or Turbo graphic covered version like the 2002, but the market for an E21 is very affordable...and that is a good thing. Find this 1977 BMW 320i E21 offered for $1800 in Fraser, MI via craigslist.
The E21 generation BMW 3-series is a great way to get into a clean classic without breaking the bank. The best low mile and stock examples are starting to demand premium money but it is still a great time to get into the market before it takes off and leaves you behind. Find this 1978 BMW 320i with 21k miles on the odometer for sale in Woodstock, GA for $9,000 via craigslist.
The E21 generation is one of the better deals available on the market for BMWs that fall into the "depreciated modern classic" bucket. While we prefer a clean and original version for our daily driving needs, a hot rod E21 certainly would tick off a few boxes on the bucket list. Find this 1979 BMW 320i V8 for sale in Plymouth, PA for $2,000 via craigslist. Tip from the Hack Mechanic.
The E21 generation BMW 3-series was a logical evolution of the BMW Neue Klasse (2002/1600) and started to cement BMW's reputation for building sporty luxury sedans. The E21 wasn't about straight line performance, eschewing displacement for its sweet sounding inline 6 engines...unless some country boys have swapped in a Ford 5.0 V8. Find this 1977 BMW E21 