SPOTLIGHT: Becky’s E21 BMW 'Shark Nose'

A few days back we gave you a taster of this awesome Air Lift-equipped E21 in the form of a desktop wallpaper. Well now it’s time to take a proper look at this classic BMW, and how owner Becky Evans brought it back to life…

The car itself is a 1983 model which was found languishing on a barn in Devon, England. With just three owners from new it’s safe to say this E21 was somewhat preserved by layers of farmyard grime – in fact, the bodywork remains 100% factory! From the Kamei twin light front grille to the tan interior and rear ‘Heckblende’ tail lights, everything about this car screams with original charm.

And it’s that rear BMW Heckblende plinth that most people comment on when they see the car for the first time. ‘It’s here to stay… it’s a part of the car’s history and a period modification that matches the front grille!’ Becky explains.

It’s no accident that Becky ended up with this classic shark nose parked on her driveway, either. She’s hunted high and low to find the right example, spurred on by the memories of her mum’s own E21 as a kid. With this in mind, Becky’s been quite sympathetic in her select choice of modifications. BBS RS 3-piece wheels fill the stock arches measuring in at 16×8-inch (front) and 16×9-inch (rear) for a classic staggered setup. These tuck up precisely thanks to a custom-fabricated Air Lift air ride kit, all fitted by Shiv and the team at Design4 Automotive.

Custom front legs were constructed using Air Lift dampers and dual bellow air bags mated to the original BMW stub axles. On the back, custom-fitted Air Lift rear dampers with 30-level adjustment join slimline air bags, all controlled by Air Lift Auto Pilot V2 management and twin air tanks within a custom boot build. The only giveaway inside is the dash-mounted Air Lift controller and a Nardi Classic 350mm wood steering wheel.

With the car now complete, Becky’s concentrating on enjoying her little slice of motoring history. The Air Lift setup is a big player in keeping this project from harm. Originally, the plan was to put the car on coilovers, but it didn’t take long for Becky to change the direction of the build opting for an Air Lift let-up. And the result? A seriously fun summer cruiser! “The Air Lift kit is awesome and it allows me to ensure that the car’s rust-free sills don’t get damaged by the lows!” Explains Becky.

Becky sums it up perfectly, ‘This is my weekend toy, and Air Lift allows me to react to obstacles in the road or extra weight in the car. So if I have to get three people in the car and go down a bumpy lane to get to a pub there’s no need to panic – just raise the height and carry on cruising!’