BMW 3.0 CSL 1974 2Door

This Lot will be sold at auction at Symphony of Spring; Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 7th March. Concours conditionRare colour with superb photographic restoration historyThe timeless and beautiful shape of the big BMW coupe was first conceived back in 1965 in the 2.0 litre 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 carburetted until the adoption of Bosch fuel injection in the 3.0 litre 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 3.0 litre division, capacity of the engine was rebored and quoted as 3003cc which in road trim resulted in 200bhp at 5500rpm. The CSL label needed only 1,000 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.Just 500 right hand drive CSLs were produced and nearly all had additional equipment over the left hand drive car to help aid the drivability of the car on a daytoday basis. These additional options were grouped and labelled the City Package and included power glass front and rear windows, power steering, interior bonnet release, chrome CSi front and rear bumpers and a toolkit.This jaw dropping right hand drive 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. It has electric windows, PAS, Scheel sports seats, 14 alloy wheels, aluminium bonnet, boot lid and door skins, toolkit, chrome bumpers front and rear and enjoys Bluetooth audio connection.The paint work is first class having just rolled out from a twoyear 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 was carried out at this time, while panels were removed to ensure the integrity of the work was upheld for much longer than even the factory intended when new. Every component was then attached and 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.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, often just replaced with black cloth. Slide into the brand new Scheel seats and its 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.The matching number 3.0 litre engine has been fully rebuilt to ensure common integrity throughout the restoration. Every component attached has been stripped down and replated or replaced resulting in a fresh as new finish rarely seen on the CSL. The gearbox and drivetrain have also been fully stripped with every bush of linkage refurbished or renewed; this becomes obvious when out on the road with a tight and positive shift. The period 14inch 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 complementing an incredible restoration and contributing to a tight and responsive drive as if it were new back in 1972. It was first registered on 8th March 1974 and confirmed by BMW Group archive, as being produced from the factory in Ceylon Gold, chassis 22