1972 BMW 3.0 CSL for Sale | West Sussex 🇬🇧

BMW 3.0 CSL Price: £199,995 SPECIFICATION 500 Mileage 137 Top Speed 1972 Year 6.9 0 - 60 12 Months MOT Expiry 200 BHP Exempt Tax Expiry 4-Speed Manual Transmission Ceylon Gold Exterior Colour 3003cc Engine Capacity Black Interior Colour Inline 6 Engine Configuration MODEL HISTORY The timeless and beautiful shape of the big BMW coupe was first conceived back in 1965 in the 2L coupe by Karmann, it developed into the e9 chassis in 1968 and production continued until the final model rolled off the production line in 1975. The introduction of the coupe in 1968 signalled BMWs intention to return to the luxury car market sector, an area it had been forced to ignore for years while it struggled to turn around its fortunes during the early 60s. Early cars were all carbureted until the adoption of Bosch fuel injection in the 3L CSi. Hugely important in BMW motorsport history was the homologation special CSL (coupe sport leicht) which offered an aluminium bonnet, boot and doors with little in the way of luxury equipment, weight saving was also achieved by using thinner gauge steel in the construction of the body. To qualify the car for racing in the over 3 litre division, capacity of the engine was re bored and quoted as 3003cc which in road trim resulted in 200bhp at 5500rpm. The CSL label needed only 1000 cars to make it eligible to race. It was developed by a separate division in BMW AG which would later become BMW Motorsport GmbH. While the CSL does not carry the M badge many consider this as the first ever M car and one that first carried the tri colour motorsport livery. Racing achievement – It is rare that a competition car lasts more than four seasons, in-fact by the time a race car is winning it is usually obsolete and designers are developing its successor. Such was the achievement of the coupe in international racing that it raced from 1969 through to 1978 and even then in 78 still won its fifth European touring car championship against stiff competition. Exploring the success of the CSL during its motorsport career is an impossible task to do here on this page, there is too much of it! Further reading and viewing is highly recommended as drivers such as Hans Stuck and Dieter Quester all wrestled the Munich monster in various Works, Alpina and Schnitzer incarnations from Group 2 400bhp cars to Group 5 750bhp fire breathing turbo rockets. Just 500 RHD CSLs were produced and nearly all had additional equipment over the LHD car to help aid the drivability of the car on a day to day basis. These additional options were grouped and labeled the ‘City Package’ and included power glass front and rear windows, power steering, interior bonnet release, chrome CSi front and rear bumpers and a tool kit. EQUIPMENT RHD UK City Pack, Ceylon Gold, Electric Windows, PAS, Scheel Sports Seats, 14″ Alloy Wheels, Aluminium Bonnet, Boot Lid and Door Skins, Tool kit, Chrome Bumpers Front and Rear, Bluetooth Audio connection. EXTERIOR This jaw dropping CSL is finished in Ceylon Gold – an unusual period colour that captures the era perfectly. The colour looks just right on this homologation special against the black CSL stripe, period black number plates, black wheel centres and lashings of chrome around the body. The paint work is first class having just rolled out from a 2 year nut and bolt restoration with marque specialists. The car has been stripped to a bare metal shell and rebuilt as per factory standard spot welds, folds and panels. Further rust proofing is carried out at this time while panels are removed to ensure the integrity of the work is upheld for much longer than even the factory intended when new. Every component then attached is either rebuilt, refinished or replaced. As such every inch of the car is like new including the underneath which is as good to look at as the above with all components treated and rebuilt. Simply staggering and a worthy finish for such a successful touring car. INTERIOR The interior in a BMW E9 coupe is like none other, beautifully laid out with plenty of wood trim it is just a wonderful place to be. Much like the exterior, no item has escaped attention inside. Anything replaced has been done so with careful consideration to ensure the original factory finish or colour scheme has been upheld. The punched black headlining specific to the CSL has been replaced with an exact copy as has the carpet, speckled in colour, more often than not just replaced with black cloth. Slide into the brand new Scheel seats and it’s obvious this is a special car. Factory door seals and window seals have all been renewed and the plastic carpet covers (all too easily broken or lost) are still present and in excellent order. A hint of modern tech is hidden away in the form of a bluetooth unit to allow music streaming to the original fitment centre mounted speaker in the dash. WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES The period 14 inch BMW wheels are refurbished and present as new with sparkling chrome centre caps, new stickers and wheel bolts. Wrapped in as new Dunlop tyres, the multi spoke alloys hide new calipers, discs and pads all round. All suspension components have been renewed with new shocks, ball joints and rubber bushes complimenting an incredible restoration and contributing to a tight and responsive drive as if it were new back in 1972. HISTORY FILE First registered on the 8th March 1974, and confirmed by BMW group archive as being produced from the factory in Ceylon Gold, Chassis 2285446 has been lucky enough to have been completely and painstakingly rebuilt for a second lease of life. On file is a full photographic album of the restoration from start to finish showing the intense and lengthy effort that has been lavished on this historic BMW touring car. This CSL is now ready for a new owner to propel it into its second life as a brand new CSL restored to factory standards as it rolled out of BMW nearly 50 years ago. The Octane Collection CONTACT E sales@theoctanecollection.com T +44 (0) 1483 338 901 A Unit 12a, Rudgwick Brickworks, Lynwick St, Rudgwick, Horsham RH12 3DH, West Sussex, UK