WTB: Ready to race specE30

#1

I was just at VIR for the NASA MA weekend and spoke with several of you E30 guys. Thanks for the guidance.
I’d like to get my first race car and am looking to buy a ready-to-race E30. I believe what I have read on many forums that it’s better to buy than build. So…who is ready to sell?
I’m in the Atlanta area, but can travel to see prospective cars. Thanks.

#2

Congrats on the wise decision to join the Spec E30 racers:)

However…

You might find it a bit difficult to get a "turn key" racer. I’ve only seen one fully prepped car change hands in two years. Not to say it’s impossible, but may be difficult. I thought that building my from the ground up was a big part of the fun. You might reconsider going that route…that way when the car is done, it’s uniquely yours.

Good Luck

#3

Hello

The black #2 four door should be for sale after the national race at Mid O, it was at VIR this weekend and is a proven mid pack car! Everything was new for 2006 and will probably have a bunch of fresh wear items done just for the national race…

Please contact me off board to discuss.

Thanks

Al Taylor
wabmw25@aol.com

ps, Spec e30 is the best racing series out there.

#4

FARTBREF wrote:

[quote]Hello

The black #2 four door should be for sale after the national race at Mid O, it was at VIR this weekend and is a proven mid pack car! Everything was new for 2006 and will probably have a bunch of fresh wear items done just for the national race…

Please contact me off board to discuss.

Thanks

Al Taylor
wabmw25@aol.com

ps, Spec e30 is the best racing series out there.[/quote]
… except for the lack of a diesel class.

#5

FARTBREF wrote:

[quote]Hello

The black #2 four door should be for sale after the national race at Mid O, it was at VIR this weekend and is a proven mid pack car! Everything was new for 2006 and will probably have a bunch of fresh wear items done just for the national race…

Please contact me off board to discuss.

Thanks

Al Taylor
wabmw25@aol.com

ps, Spec e30 is the best racing series out there.[/quote]
Are wheels wear items?? B) :laugh:

#6

Apearently so!..I started the year with 5 14x6 BBS and 5 15x7 BBS…down to 2 of the 14’s so I will probably be on bottlecaps…

Al

#7

Thanks for the responses. Yes, after shopping around and asking, there aren’t many, if any, race-ready cars available.
I will contact Al about his car.
Also, I’ve found an '87 325is in Roswell, GA that has been stripped with racing seats and extensive maintenance/repairs. It’s at Harrison Motorsports and all mods are spec E30 legal. It will need roll cage, fire suppression, and a few other items to be race ready, but it’s 50%+ of the way there. Here is a link to the car with pics and a list of mods. http://www.apexmotorcars.com/apexmotorcars/carthink/CarDetails.aspx?VIN=WBAAA1309H2320272
What do you think of this one? Comments or suggestions? The price? I may test drive the car at Road ATL on the 12/13 Aug.

Thanks again for your help and ideas. Jon

Post edited by: alfageorgia, at: 2006/08/02 12:48

Post edited by: alfageorgia, at: 2006/08/02 12:48

#8

That car seems like a really good starting point. escpecially if you can get him down a little lower. Like you said a cage, fire system and electrial cut off and you are ready to ride.

#9

Verify that the H&R springs are the race springs, not the sport springs. Either way, not that big of a deal to switch if necessary.

Post edited by: sdais, at: 2006/08/02 19:24

#10

I wouldn’t offer more than $6,000.00, but it looks like a good candidate. If you can get it for 6, that’ll leave you about $3,500.00 more for the cage, graphics, wheels and tires, window net, and possibly springs and a few other items. Most of us have between eight and ten thousand in our car.

How many miles are on it?

Carter

#11

Just keep in mind that those iS basketweaves are 14x6.5", therefore not Spec legal.

So, unless you’re planning on running 14x6" bottlecaps (which are cheap, but heavy and likely to be out-of-round), figure about $1100 for 8 new wheels and about $900 for 4 shaved and 4 full treat 205/50-R15 RA-1s.

Judging by what I remember of the photos (the site has a Microsoft server problem right now), you might be able to get $250-500 for the iS basketweaves, depending on the depth of the brake dust and the tires on the wheels.

#12

Other guys chime in if I’m wrong, but I think those seats aren’t very good. I think the Sparco Sprint is a tubular steel seat, rather than a solid fiberglass shell, and therefore heavy and not particularly safe. A new FIA-rated racing seat will run at least $500 with steel brackets.

$8,000 seems like a lot for the car. The sum total of all parts on this car is not much, but a fair amount of labor has gone into installing the various pieces. If you’re willing to do the work yourself (which was at least half the fun for me and I had no prior experience), you could get to the same point where this car is for probably about 50% of what they’re asking.

Sasha

#13

To all: thanks for the very helpful input. The springs are Sport and would need to be changed for racing. The Sparco Sprint seats are tubular steel and not great. Also wheels and tires would need changing. $$!
The brake rotors are E30 ATE Front: 34-11-1-160-915 and Rear: 34-21-6-755-407. Are these legal in Spec E30?
So, still a good platform, but I’ll be careful on the price. Jon

#14

Jon, call me as I know of a race ready car for $7000 here in the Atlanta srea. Robert Patton (770)886-2500

#15

I’ve uncovered three different options at this point. None are perfect, but one may work out. Thanks again for the advice and let me know if you hear of any other E30 cars for sale. Jon jcs4235@bellsouth.net