If you are like most red-blooded driving enthusiasts, you've probably dreamt of owning a BMW E30 M3 at some point.

And you've probably also taken a look online and seen that prices for said E30 M3s are through the roof.

A competition-bred car that was once popular among weekend racers and customizers it’s now a darling among collectors, and with values higher than ever, the days of E30 M3 project cars will likely be coming to an end in the near future.

Don't tell that to Stan Chen. The avid European car enthusiast scored this 1988 M3 in 2016 as a project car sight unseen, and as often happens, the BMW needed much more work than was originally anticipated.

No worries for the man who cut his tuning teeth modding all manner of Three Series projects.

In fact, the added work gave Stan the perfect excuse to start having some real fun with the car, adding his own personal touches while keeping the spirit of the eighties homologation special intact.

Before he knew it, Stan was preparing the car for the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. With its mix of European motorsport influence and custom street style, the M3 stood out among all the stand outs at SEMA.

Despite its unique look, there's nothing excessive about the car. Minor exterior enhancements compliment the M3's factory styling, custom-built Rotiform ROC wheels perfectly blend retro and modern, and the custom tan interior by RMD Garage further sets things off.

The BMW specialists at CATuned in Sacramento were called upon to bring the S14 engine back to life and do some additional refreshing, and the Accuair air suspension kit was fitted by Sadistic Ironwerks in Hesperia, California.

Like most cars bound for SEMA, Stan found himself doing lots of last-minute work, including several parts that were installed on the Monday before the show officially opened up.

While it might not be the type of showroom-spec machine that auction-goers salivate over, Stan is the perfect example of an enthusiast who's not afraid to have some fun with a rare and desirable model.

The result is one of the sexiest street-going BMWs we've seen in a while.

Owner/Driver: Stan Chen @iamstanchen

Car: 1988 BMW E30 M3 “Crazy 88”

Engine/Powertrain: Stock S14 Motor (undergoing full rebuild)

Transmission: Factory five-speed manual transmission with RTD short shifter

Exterior: Evo front spoiler and carbon wing by GT Technik, APR Performance custom cut carbon splitter

Interior: Complete custom interior by RMD Garage, Recaro CS Sportster seats, fully restored gauge cluster with gold accents and Euro clock by Bavarian Restoration

Electronics: N/A

Wheels/Tires: One-off Rotiform ROC with gold hardware 17x8 (front), 17x9 (rear); Toyo Tires Proxes T1R 205/40ZR17 (front) 215/40ZR17 (rear)

Suspension/Brakes: Accuair air suspension kit with E-Level

Instagram: Larry_Chen_Foto

Larry@LarryChenPhoto.com