1973 BMW 3.0 CSL Coupé

1973 BMW 3.0 CSL Coupé
Registration no. BVX 38L
Chassis no. 2285469
• Rare UK-delivered right-hand drive example
• Present ownership since 2005
• Well maintained
• Comprehensive history file of bills, MoTs, etc

In production from May 1972, the 3.0 CSL (Coupé Sport Leicht) was creative homologation at its best. The BMW engineers' solution to the marketing department's requirements was to develop a limited-production 'homologation special' to meet the constrictive framework of the Group 2 racing class regulations. By removing the trim; using thinner steel for the main bodyshell; aluminium alloy for the doors, bonnet and boot lid; and Perspex for the side windows, 300lb (136kg) in weight was saved – 'Leicht' indeed. However, the interior trim was retained for most of the 500 UK-delivered cars (the so-called 'City Package').

Homologated initially with a fractionally over-bored (3,003cc) engine (enabling it to compete in the over 3-litre class) the 3.0 CSL came with 206bhp for road use and well over 300 horsepower for the track. In 1973 the engine's stroke was increased, upping capacity to 3,153cc (nominally 3.2 litres) and from mid-season onwards the racing CSLs used the so-called 'Batmobile' aerodynamic package, which consisted of a front chin spoiler, large rear wing and various other devices.

Toine Hezemans captured the 1973 European Touring Car Championship for BMW at the wheel of a Batmobile and co-drove one to a class win at Le Mans that year with Dieter Quester. From 1975 onwards the Batmobiles won five consecutive European Touring Car Championships, a quite unprecedented run of success.

Strikingly finished in Taiga Green with black interior, the beautiful CSL offered here is chassis number '2285469', one of the last UK-delivered cars. BMW dealer Fairfield Garage of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex undertook much of the early servicing, the owner at that time being a Mr Hudson of the Facet Group. Numerous invoices show he owned the CSL up to circa 47,000 miles. The car then moved to Hertfordshire with its new lady custodian, who kept it for nearly 21 years, covering fewer than 12,000 miles during her ownership. The history file contains records of refurbishment undertaken in the mid-1980s.

The BMW was sold in 2003 at 61,900 miles, as corroborated by expired MoTs. The current vendor purchased the car in 2005. Since then it has been used and maintained, with most of the servicing entrusted to the owner's local garage, J J Griffiths of Llandrindod Wells. Any bodywork refurbishment has been carried out by King of Cool Classic Cars, while the front seats were retrimmed by West Country Trimmers in 2017. Munich Legends carried out the most recent mechanical work in 2021, while an oil change was carried out in September 2023. An account of expenditure on repairs and maintenance may be found in the comprehensive history file,

With only 1,039 CSLs produced between 1973 and 1975 compared to over 19,000 standard CS/CSi models, these 'specials' will always be relatively rare and today this ultimate BMW coupé is highly sought after.