BMW Royalty

This one was special. The E30 M3 is one of those holy grail cars isn’t it? It looks good, the sound is sublime and the drive is just right.

It’s a car with a rich racing history, having been developed to compete in the touring cars series of the late 80’s. The S14 in-line four engine is nothing short of a work of art. Based closely on the S38 six cylinder, BMW hit the nail on the head with this one. Something not to be overlooked is the M3’s dog-leg gearbox, improving the driving experience with the gear change between 2nd and 3rd a straight throw, perfect for those twisting roads.

This powertrain paired with such a great chassis, it’s no wonder the E30 M3 was a force to be reckoned with on the track.

Aidan’s m3 is particularly rare. Number 291 of 500 Evo 2 models built. Beautifully kept but still driven, exactly how cars like this should be. Being an Italian import, the car provided somewhat of a puzzle to Aidan when purchased. A trip to the bookstore for an Italian dictionary sorted that problem. How can you not smile at stories like that?

The opportunity to shoot such a beautiful car could not be spoiled by an average location. With Aidan’s suggestion and some scouting we went for the area around Lough Gur in County Limerick, with the early morning sunlight filtering through the trees Aidan parked up the M3 and I went about grabbing a few photos.

I have often said that the chat and laughs during a photoshoot really make all this worth while. Getting to know Aidan and his stunning M3 was a true pleasure and the image of that car basking in the early morning sun, surrounded by forestry is something I'll never forget.