Prodrive

[BMGM3]

I'm told that Prodrive has a heritage centre that members of the public can visit. Any one been and can anyone confirm they have a Bastos liveried BMW E30 M3.Any other details would be cool

PS . Still looking for someone within Prodrive who could provide the history to an Ex Prodrive E30 M3 BTCC car, now owned by a friend who Prodrive won't provide any history to.Probably as they are more interested in buying this historic car back before letting on it's history.

Cheers

Please email me if you are able to help with the BTCC history or have a question.



>>> Edited by BMGM3 on Wednesday 27th April 19:08

>>> Edited by BMGM3 on Wednesday 27th April 19:09

[BMGM3]

Anyone ?

[FourWheelDrift]

I see two in the photo and two Prodrive built Bastos sponsored BMW M3's ran in the Spa 24hr race in 1988.

http://homepage.mac.com/frank_de_jong/Races/1988%20Spa.html

Could be one of those.

PS I don't recall a Bastos sponsored car running in the BTCC either.

>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Thursday 28th April 18:11

[BMGM3]

The cars in the pic are Grp A rally cars. You are correct that there was a few Bastos liveried race cars,but I'm lead to believe the car Prodrive has is the rally version, so could possibly be one of those in the pic.
Here's a pic of the guys BTCC M3 which he is trying to find the history for.....and Prodrive won't play ball

[GarrettMacD]

The E30 M3 rally car looks very much like the one used by Marc Duez, a Belgian driver, in both the Belgian and European rally champs in the late '80's and early '90's. He was heavily backed by Bastos, still is in fact. I am 99% sure the car's were prepped by Prodrive. In fact, Prodrive were working on an M3 turbo to take on the Cosworth's in BTCC, when the rules changed to atmo cars!!!

Do a google search for Marc Duez, it should bring up loads of pics of his time in E30 M3's, he has also competed in loads of endurance circuit racing, like the Spa 24hrs, also with Bastos backing.


As for the second M3, it looks similar to the one's raced by Frank Sytner & Kelvin Burt back in the BTCC in 1988/1989. These were also prepped by Prodrive. You'll struggle to get in touch with Frank Sytner, as he has retired to Monaco (he sold the Sytner BMW franchises) but Kelvin Burt is still about on the race scene, he might even have his own website???

Hope that's been helpful.

Garrett


EDIT:
Forgot to say, but Vic Lee has a huge history file for E30 M3's. I would normally have said that you can catch up with him at most race weekends, but if recent events are to be believed, we may not be seeing him for another 10 years or so...

>> Edited by GarrettMacD on Thursday 28th April 20:46

[FourWheelDrift]

Does he know that Jonathan Palmer & Steve Soper (Or Tim Sugden when Steve was on DTM duties) drove Mobil sponsored cars built by Prodrive in the 1991 BTCC? They were numbered 22 & 44 normally.

www.stillphotography.co.uk/gallery/album04

Which Prodrive location has he contacted?

[Trackside]

BMGM3 said:

Still looking for someone within Prodrive who could provide the history to an Ex Prodrive E30 M3 BTCC car, now owned by a friend who Prodrive won't provide any history to.Probably as they are more interested in buying this historic car back before letting on it's history.

Could it be that they've got it's original driver lined up for a first refusal should it come up for sale? If your friend was to find out that it was an ex-Sytner/Weaver/Palmer car, for example, he could potentially be on to a "nice little earner".

Sorry I can't help with this one, BMG, but keep us posted. I love seeing these Group A cars coming out of the woodwork. Now, where are all those Eggenberger Volvos...

[BMGM3]

Thanks for taking the time to reply everyone.
I just kinda interested to know a bit about the cars that I'm told Prodrive has at it's hertiage centre. I'm told the Bastos rally M3 is there and this is my main interest. For anyone that's interested , then have a look at this thread on my fave M3 forum .
www.s14.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11050&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

The BTCC car a friend owns is now in the USA . He's total E30 M3 nut and I'm pretty sure won't sell the car.He just wants to know a little of it's history . He has spoken to someone at Prodrive's heritage centre and promises to come back with details etc etc , but seems more interested in buying the car .
The owner is named Jimmy P and has a post on a BTCC forum that says more about the car and what he has found out, than I could type here.

http://btccpages.motorsportforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=99661&perpage=20&display=&pagenumber=1

Thanks for looking

[ginettag27]

Whereabouts is the heritage centre?? Banbury? Could always try to take a look..

[williamp]

Yes, its in their heritge centre in banbury, along with Mcrae's Subaru 555, Dave Richards rallying 911, the BTCC Mondeo's and Honda Accords, a Prodrive 550 LM from the 03 Le Mans, and some of their trophies.

Not sure if you can get the individual cars history, I'm afrid.

Will