BMW M3 GTR (E46), Most Wanted, White & Blue

In 2001 BMW took the E46 M3 to the American Le Mans Series with a 4.0-litre V8, the P60, in place of the usual straight six. The rules that year asked for a road version on sale on two continents within twelve months, so BMW built ten road-going development cars, at a planned price of 250,000 euros. The car won the series' GT category that season. When the rules for 2002 demanded 100 cars and 1,000 engines, BMW withdrew the GTR rather than build them, though it came back to win the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2004 and 2005. Its fame outside racing comes from the 2005 video game Need for Speed: Most Wanted, which gave it a cult following.

This model reworks the game's scheme in white and blue. The blue is laid on as rough, scratched brush strokes, crossing the doors in the familiar diagonal bands and running over the bonnet and roof, with black hash marks scattered across the panels. Silver multi-spoke wheels with gold centre-lock nuts fill the widened arches, and a black wing stands on two uprights above the boot lid. Inside are a white roll cage, a blue bucket seat and steering wheel, a switch panel with coloured buttons and a fire extinguisher. It stands on a carbon-pattern base under a black plaque reading 1/18 BMW M3E46 GTR, Limited Edition, one of 99. The graphics belong to the model only and imply no link with the game's publisher.