Around the time that the Berlin Wall fell, Germany was pumping out some amazing cars that are just coming into their own as collectible classics.
Offering a range of models from a variety of Germanic automotive giants, Sotheby’s Motorsport has a quintet of cool cars that offer some serious ‘kraftwerk’ that capture the essence of that 1980s, early ’90s zeitgeist and reflects the winds of change across Europe of the time.
The five cars in this intriguing capsule collection are:
- 1988 BMW M3 Europameister
- 1982 Mercedes 500SL AMG
- 1996 BMW M3 Dinan Supercharged
- 1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 2
- 1993 Mercedes 500E
The M3 Europameister is a one-of-148 examples, signed by BMW’s Italian racing star Roberto Ravaglia. This homologation special honors Ravaglia’s 1988 European Touring Car Championship title, which is one of the most sought-after editions of the entire E30 M3 catalog. Finished in Macao Blue Metallic over Silver leather, this really is a racing car that you can drive on the road, and its 2.3-liter engine is a genuine M Series classic.
The other BMW on offer is a 1996 M3 that features a Dinan Stage 6 package, including a Vortech supercharger packed with performance goodies, transformed in-house by Dinan in 2001. It's finished in ‘Techno-violet’, which is uncommon for a ’96 model, as most of the purple cars were ‘Daytona violet’. It’s had many extras switched in over the years, making it a unique example.
The earliest car in the collection is this 1982 Mercedes-Benz 500SL AMG 5.0, which exemplifies the performance-oriented engineering that defined pre-merger AMG. Finished in striking monochromatic black over a parchment leather interior, this SL showcases a rare blend of luxury and sportiness.
Contrast that black beauty with a bright white Mercedes 500E from 1993. This model’s distinction is that it was created in close cooperation with Porsche, making it a best-of-both-marques model as Porsche engineered the fitment of the Merc’s five-liter V8 engine used in the SL. That made it the top-of-the-range model in the W124 series. A blue leather interior ensures the luxury to go with the horsepower, and its look is topped off by the 18-inch Evo-style wheels.
The collection is rounded off by a 1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 2, finished in a vibrant Cobalt Blue over blue leather. Porsche’s 964-generation 911 (built from 1989-1994) marked a significant evolution in the iconic model’s lineage, blending classic design cues with Porsche’s engineering prowess.
All five of these German performance cars have a decent mileage on them, so they’re ripe to be driven by real enthusiasts, allowing future owners to bring the autobahn to the interstate.
