3 SERIES E21
Total Revs
9
Global Rank
#255
Gen Rank
1 MORE REVS TO REACH #254 IN OVERALL GEN
Ranked Categories
About the 3 Series E21
The E21 was the first car BMW called a 3 Series, and it set the template for everything that followed. Replacing the 02 series in 1975, it got a range of four and six-cylinder engines, rear-wheel drive, and a chassis that prioritized driver engagement over comfort. The 323i was the one to have, the M20 six making 143 hp with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection. It was quick for 1977 and handled with a precision that nothing else in the price range could match. No airbags, no ABS in early cars, thin doors, and a greenhouse that let you see every corner of the car. The E21 was simple, analog, and direct in a way that modern 3 Series buyers can only read about. BMW built the sports sedan category here.