The Underground Rivalry: BMW E12 M535i vs. Alfa Romeo GTV6 3.0
When Munich met Milan on African tarmac, history was forged in tire smoke and screaming revs.
Let’s set the record straight - this wasn’t some polite gentleman’s duel through Alpine switchbacks. This was a full-on, steel-fendered slugfest.
Imagine South Africa, early ‘80s. A motorsport loophole big enough to drive a homologation special through, and two of Europe’s proudest marques were ready to exploit it. What followed was one of the toe-to-toe rawest Touring Car rivalries the world barely remembers - but absolutely should.
The Machines: M Power Meets Busso Fury
On one side, you had the BMW E12 M535i - a car so special it was built only in South Africa. Not just any 5 Series, this was the first official M car, a pre-M5 brute with real motorsport credentials. It packed the 3.5L straight-six from the 635CSi, a manual gearbox, stiffened suspension, and factory M-Tech aero before that meant showroom fluff. It wasn’t pretty. It was perfect.
On the other hand you have Alfa Romeo’s answer, more sinister and more soulful. They took the glorious 3.0L Busso V6 - normally found in the executive-class Alfa 6 - and crammed it into the GTV6’s featherweight chassis.
The result? The Alfa Romeo GTV6 3.0 V6. A howling, rear-drive, rev-happy banshee that weighed less, turned quicker, and had a voice like a Ferrari on a bender.
Unlike watered-down versions for the road, they were homologation specials built to race in South Africa’s Group 1 Touring Car Championship, where factory-backed teams ran them flat-out in the searing heat of circuits like Kyalami, Killarney, and Aldo Scribante.
The Bloodsport
More than manufacturer pride on the line - it was national identity, gearhead mythology, and driving skill fused into steel. Both were engineered for the same purpose, to dominate South African Group 1 Touring Car Championships and win showroom credibility by proving their mettle on track.
The BMW E12 M535i and the Alfa Romeo GTV 3.0 V6 were very much direct rivals, especially in the South African market, where they were both homologated for Group 1 Touring Car competition during the early 1980s, one of the rawest and most underappreciated rivalries in performance saloon and coupe history.
The E12 M535i was Munich’s iron-fisted enforcer, raced by South African legends like Eddie Keizan and Tony Viana under teams backed by giants like Schnitzer. It was powerful, planted, and could take lap after lap of abuse without blinking.
The GTV6 3.0 was smaller, lighter, and more agile. Especially lethal on tighter tracks. Pilots like Arnold Chatz and Paolo Cavalieri extracted every last ounce of performance from the high-revving V6, hunting BMWs down with beautifully controlled aggression.
And in September 1983, the Alfa proved its worth - debuting at Kyalami and taking 1st and 2nd place. Munich had been warned.
Why It Matters
It was cultural. It was myth-making. These cars were built only for the South African market due to unique local rules that required production cars to be assembled domestically. This gave rise to truly special machinery that never existed anywhere else.
- The BMW E12 M535i was limited to just 1,410 units. It was the first car to wear an “M” badge in earnest. Think of it as the missing link between the 530 Motorsport Limited Edition and the E28 M5.
- The Alfa Romeo GTV6 3.0, even rarer. With just around 200 units produced between 1984 and 1985, it’s unicorn-tier.
There are no accidental overlaps. This was full-intent, engineered brand rivalry. Both are right-hand drive - perfect for collectors in the UK, Australia, Japan, South Africa, and beyond.
Now Available in Singapore
1982 BMW E12 M535i
A milestone in BMW’s legacy and a cornerstone of South African touring car dominance. This unit, imported to Singapore in 2022, has been preserved in a temperature and humidity-controlled environment and remains in exceptional condition. Powered by a 3.5L inline-six pushing 218 hp, it hits 0–100 km/h in 7.2 seconds - a respectable figure even today.
If you’re a BMW collector, the M535i is not only a car. It’s the origin story.
1985 Alfa Romeo GTV6 3.0
Freshly restored by Alfa Romeo specialists in South Africa, this specific example of the GTV6 3.0 is an absolute jewel. It arrived in Singapore in 2022 and has also been stored in ideal preservation conditions. The 3.0L Busso V6, combined with its low curb weight, makes for one of the most emotional, engaging drives you’ll ever experience. And with just around 200 units ever made, it’s more than rare - it’s motorsport sculpture on wheels.
Ties to South African Tour Car Glory
Cars that touched that era - especially South African-delivered 1982 BMW E12 M535is or 1985 Alfa Romeo 3.0 V6 GTVs - carry unspoken pedigree. Even if not ex-race cars, they’re connected to a golden era where factory homologation meant something, where “M” and “V6” were more than badges - they were battle flags on wheels.
Owning one of these isn’t just about rarity. It’s about owning the story. And that story includes tire smoke, screaming revs, and a rivalry forged far from the Nürburgring - but no less legendary.
If you’re serious about adding one of the most important cars with ties to South African tour car glory era to your portfolio, we get it. Opportunities like this don’t just appear - they’re curated. And we know exactly where to find them. Private viewings are available by appointment. Reach out via WhatsApp, drop us an email, or use the contact form here.