In the 1980s, if you wanted to own a tuner car, your options were fairly limited. After all, we were still very much in a time and place where muscle cars dominated the scene, and aftermarket suppliers were inherently focused on the likes of the Camaro and Mustang. Reeves Callaway started the company out of his garage in Old Lyme, Connecticut, where his offices still exist today. His first dalliance with turbo kits came in the form of a modified E21-chassis BMW 3-Series, the pioneering model that put his company on the map. This 1983 BMW 32o listed here on Facebook Marketplace is said to be an original Callaway build and is offered for sale at $13,500. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for the find.
Those of us familiar with BMWs of a certain vintage know the E21 was a mild disappointment when it arrived on our shores. It had to follow in the gigantic footsteps of the BMW 2002, which was always going to be a hard act to follow. Despite having decent handling and the sort of road manners you’d expect from a BMW, the M10 four-cylinder engine left a lot to be desired. This is where Callaway’s genius was most evident, as his turbocharger kit took the E21 from mild to wild seemingly overnight, with the upgraded engine churning out 164 horsepower under 10 PSI of boost. The seller has modified his car quite bit further, however, so it likely makes even more power as a result.
While Callaway didn’t get into other modifications for the E21, it seems to go hand-in-hand that a go-fast kit like this often invites additional tweaks. This E21 features rear window louvers, a lowered suspension, single round headlights conversion, slimmer European market bumpers, BBS/Mahle wheels, side skirts, and much more. The E21 is a car I wouldn’t feel bad about modifying, unless I owned an absolutely pristine examples of a factory sport package car. BMW owners are no strangers to heavy modifications, with M3 engine swaps seemingly the norm these days. All told, a modified E21 doesn’t suffer from nearly the same level of penalties like other cars, especially when the mods are fitting and period-correct.
On the interior, you’ll find a clean set of Recaro sport buckets with the rare and desirable netted head rests. The seller notes that the E21 also comes with a European-market center console, factory 3-spoke sport steering wheel, a custom gauge pod, and more. We don’t get confirmation as to whether the dash is cracked, which is a frequent issue on BMWs of this vintage. The seller has dropped his price once already, and we’re (sadly) not surprised. These Callaway cars are definitely sought after, but it’s reserved for a small subset of a larger owner’s group that finds modified cars appealing. Would you say the “Callaway tax” is worth it on an E21 like this one?
Very tastefully upgraded though the the LED rally lights aren’t to my liking-sub in a good set of Marchals and this would be a rocking retro car. That it’s period era mods doesn’t hurt, and that its lineage includes being part of a game changer company getting a step up is a great talking point.
A good price in my book if the buyer wants a classic car of the era, European style.
Some of us subscribe to the belief however that the best BMW’s have two less wheels…and are generally a little less expensive lol.
Cool car and great tech points Jeff.
It is full of period stuff that I used to sell back in the day.
Bbs wheels, Scheel and Recaro, air dams, window louvers, forgot about the sideskirts. I’ll look up in the loft. I think a lot of brochures and catalogs are still there.
I stillhave NOS Marchal and other lighting/accessories.
Some of us believe 2 wheels are too dangerous.
I would drive a rally car on stages if given the right opportunity.
NOS Marchals!?!?! You might get some good money for those-I’ve several rally pals that got nuts for those.
The hesitation to get up on 2 wheels is nothing new; I understand it well as it’s a part of the risk acceptance everyone deals with in everything every day. The most important part of that though is having knowledge and training to help mitigate that risk-a deep dive on a new stock market offering, knowing oneself before a serious emotional commitment, a riders course before reentering the world of single track vehicle operations.
Quite frankly, I ONCE went with a friend as a navigator on an offroad rally.
Scared the ever loving tar out of me, and I couldn’t get out fast enough 🤣
If the seller wants to increase the price, he could tear off that stupid rear window louver.
Lyme, the other end of the river from us, is about 90 mi south. Calloway came up river (shore to mnt) to ask a neighbor to develop the turbo for his vette. Bob Grey performed but it worked out better for Calloway than Bob~
Nv1/2
Hope you made it to the finish.
I’d drive not codeine. Im retired from in-car instructing on road courses, sturctual steel and codriving rally cars.
I do sometimes drive rather fast in an exotic or supercar and haven’t had it bite me or get me locked up.
Jesse. Josh
Is there a way for members to contact members?
Was it my phone or your system that changed codriver to codeine?
A rare car indeed. It always bothers me when the seller shows their car with nice wheels and then add will not sell car with wheels. Show the car as intended and not upgraded for interest and downgraded once sold.