1987 BMW 3 Series IMSA Racecar Race-Ready Evolve Motors

1987 BMW 3-Series IMSA Racecar Description

This genuine BMW competition car has an estimated 1500 miles since new, according to logbook activity and race entry research. The car currently sits fully refreshed and ready to be raced in SVRA, SCCA, HSRA, and other vintage racing associations. The previous owner recently had this car road registered (our kind of guy!!!) and tagged in Arkansas. Car will come with documentation and a clear AR title.
Build History:
This car was originally prepared from BMW as a new 1987 BMW 325is body in white, delivered to TC Kline Racing in Ohio. Being a renowned Koni supplier and BMW tuner, TC Kline fitted fully adjustable Koni suspension, camber plates, and significant structural reinforcements. The engine was then sent out to Torrance, CA to Russ Collins Engineering for balancing and blueprinting, uprated camshafts and head work, and balanced and blueprinted injectors. This car’s past is full of countless unique and historical details, one of which being the tailored headers and exhaust, fabricated by Alf Gerhardt, IMSA GTO Daytona 24-hour winning driver alongside Hans Stuck and Walter Brun in the Schnitzer BMW M1. It is distinctions like this which make this car truly special in the BMW community. This car has seen a number of livery changes throughout the years, though it currently sits in its J. Pauley Motorsports livery, applied by its last owner Ron Pawley.
Mechanical upgrades include but are not limited to the following:
- DTM shifter linkage and arm
- ATL fuel cell
- Koni adjustable coil-overs
- Z3M steering rack (2.7 turns L to L)
- New poly bushings throughout
- Solid aluminum engine mounts
- E30 M3 rotors and Hawk HP+ pads
- E30 M3 rear differential (4.10 ratio)
- Original 3 piece Revolution wheels and hardware
- Mason Engineering front, rear and X-bracing
- Factory BMW pre-production race ECU
- Fresh fluids, updated safety equipment, etc.
Racing History:
The car was originally campaigned in the IMSA series of the late 80's, also known by its various title sponsors such as Toyo Tire Challenge, Luk Clutch Challenge, and Automobile Magazine Challenge. Driving duty was split between TC Kline, longtime BMW racecar constructor, Randy Pobst, who was recently inducted into the Sports Car Hall of Fame alongside Roger Penske and Bob Henderson, and Ron Pawley, 1985 Daytona 24-hour class winning driver. Due to unfavorable regulations at this time, the car did not achieve much success. However, lucky for us, it successfully finished its IMSA career in one piece, albeit with a few battle scars. One on the right rear which has a particularly interesting story involving a rub from NFL great Walter Payton and his brief stint in racing. Although this car did not have a hugely successful IMSA racing history it has been built and driven by some of the icons of vintage and contemporary BMW and sports car racing.
After its days in IMSA the car was purchased by Ron Pawley and displayed on a lift in his climate controlled facility. It remained in hibernation until 1994, when it was refreshed to compete in the COMMA series where it went on to absolutely dominate, winning 24 of 27 races entered throughout the 94-96 seasons. The car was then housed in Mr. Pawleys race shop until 2010 when it was sent out for another complete refresh in preparation for the Sebring 12-hour SVRA event, which would be the car’s last run in competition. It has since been thoroughly gone over and refreshed yet again. The car did receive invitations to the Amelia Island SVRA Race and the SVRA Indianapolis Race in 2016 but due to scheduling conflicts was not able to participate.
Please enjoy the following racing clips of this car in-period:
IMSA Columbus
Driver: TC Kline
https://youtu.be/TuuDoRjRhsM
IMSA West Palm Beach
Driver: Randy Pobst
https://youtu.be/YW34s0EP2t8
IMSA Topeka
Driver: Ron Pawley
https://youtu.be/z3Mk0jXKimo
And the following clip of us pulling it out of our showroom for a quick stretch of the legs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg3ooPaLvZA