If what you’re looking at seems…well, too old to be called a 1976 model – but simultaneously too new to be a pre-War car from some aspects, you’re right on both accounts. This is a Swiss-made Sbarro 328 replica. Italian-born Franco Sbarro started his company in 1971 in French-speaking Switzerland and immediately started copying German automobiles. They’re still open today, continuing to build limited-run prototypes, but in the 1970s a majority of their work seems to have been based upon historic cars; Bugattis, GT40s, Lola T70s. What was interesting was what they built these replicas on; Sbarro installed fiberglass copies of the originals over BMW or Mercedes-Benz chassis with original components. In the case of the 328 replica you see here, the engine, chassis, rear suspension and transmission was based upon the small-chassis BMW. In front, Sbarro utilized NSU components for the front suspension and steering. Headlights came from a Mercedes-Benz. The result of this hodge-podge was surprisingly good, managing to capture a fair amount of the aesthetic of the original without looking too out-of-shape, though they were admittedly slightly shorter and squatter than the original. Having standard BMW running gear simplified the importation process, and consequently Sbarro offered these replicas in the US market through a Florida dealer. At least a few were sold here, typically with chassis numbers XXXXUSAXX. This one is claimed to be number 5.
Category: BMW
If you thought buying your BMW M-tuned car you all of the company’s tricks…well, you’re probably not surprised already that is not the case. BMW M also has an “M Performance” line, which offers more hard-core suspension, exhaust, engine tuning, and aerodynamic tweaks for the already muscle-bound Munich missiles. In the case of today’s M2 coupe, two M Performance packages were selected – sadly, not all the best stuff. Z08 got you black grilles, a carbon-fiber rear spoiler, and an M Performance exhaust system. ZFO was all interior bits; the M Performance steering wheel, pedal covers, Alcantara shift trim, and LED door projectors. This is a little sad because the big M Performance stuff was really…well, performance oriented. You could opt to get coilover suspension, upgraded brakes, additional aero tweaks for the side skirts, and M763 wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Neat, but you were also looking at $10k worth of add-ons with those, and the two previously mentioned packages already added $5K. Additionally, this car was ordered with the Executive Package and the M Driver’s Package, which raised the top speed and got the original owner a day at the track. Add in the DCT, and this $54,000 coupe was now – gasp – $69,000. That’s $1,500 more than a standard M3 sticker price in 2018, and the M3 had 60 horsepower more than the M2. It’s also more than an M2 Competition cost. And, on top of that, the seller of this particular one also says there was a dealer adjustment of $20,000, making this a $90k M2. That’s more than the M2 CS sticker price!
Today, I’m not really sure anyone is seeking out these Performance Package cars, though in the future they’ll likely be more desirable.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2018 BMW M2 Performance on eBay
1 CommentUntil the current model year, BMW’s “what if?” pantheon was generally reduced to a few paths. What if BMW had given us the full M treatment on the 7-Series and 8-Series models? What if Chris Bangle hadn’t taken the styling reins? And what if they made an M3 wagon? Well, the last finally came true, but today’s car somewhat answers the question several generations earlier. That’s because what started here as an unassuming German-market 1996 320i Touring has become something more with the addition of M3 Lightweight-style bodywork and graphics, along with some neat 1995-specification Style 22 wheels. Inside we’ve also got a little M treatment, with M Rain cloth covering the seats. While it hasn’t had the full drivetrain swap, this one looks like a winner: