BMW E21 is the body designation for the first BMW 3 Series

BMW 3 Series

The BMW 3 Series is a compact executive car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. Successor to the BMW New Class, it has been produced in five different generations and in no less than five different body styles. It is BMW's best-selling model, accounting for around 30% of the...

 compact executive car

Compact executive car

Compact executive car is a car classification term applied to premium cars smaller than executive cars. In European classification, compact executive cars are part of the D-segment. In North American terms, close equivalents are compact premium car, compact luxury car, entry-level luxury car and...

, produced by the German automaker BMW

BMW

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...

 from 1975 to 1983. This series was the immediate successor to the BMW 2002 and was superseded by the BMW E30 platform.
Under the direction of its 51% percent shareholder, Herbert Quandt

Herbert Quandt

Herbert Werner Quandt , was a German industrialist who is regarded as having saved BMW when it was at the point of bankruptcy and made huge profit in doing so.- Early life :...

, BMW decided upon a replacement for their aging 2002. Without it, there was the distinct possibility of BMW leaving its core mission of building driver oriented cars, and alienating an existing customer base long enamored with the company's 2002 model.

Paul Bracq

Paul Bracq

Paul Bracq is an automotive designer noted for his work at Citroën, Peugeot, and Mercedes-Benz.Bracq's career began in the design studio of Philippe Charbonneaux, where he served as Charbonneaux' assistant in 1953 and 1954...

, Director of Design at BMW from 1970–1974, is credited with setting the design direction of the E21 3 Series, while Wilhelm Hofmeister

Hofmeister kink

The Hofmeister kink is an automobile design feature seen on modern BMWs. It is a low forward bend in the C-pillar of the car, which is the piece of metal that separates the rear side windows from the rear glass...

 is credited with first drawing the small forward wedge at the base of the C-pillar, a strong design trait of the first 3 Series.