1973 BMW 3.0 CSL

Offered for sale is this 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL Coupe, finished in Gulf Yellow over a black interior, and showing 49,800 km (about 20,882 mi) covered.

The BMW 3.0 CSL exemplifies everything vital about the BMW ethos. In 1972, in order to compete in the European Touring Car Championship, BMW developed the street legal homologation examples of the CSL, based on the gorgeous 3.0 CS. The special variant was the first product released to the public that was developed by the in-house competition division, BMW Motorsport GmbH, which later changed its name to BMW M GmbH. Over the years BMW built 1265 CSL´s continuously, developing the car to stay competitive.

For the first-year run of the CSL in 1972, the engine size was 2,986cc, based on the motor from the 3.0 CS. But for the 1973 versions - like this one - the engine was enlarged to 3,003cc, allowing it to compete in the over three-liter category of the Touring Car Championship. This proved to be an excellent decision, as the 3.0 CSL went on to win six titles in that series, as well as three class wins at the 24 Hours of LeMans. 

BMW’s M Division has since become synonymous with class leading performance developed from BMW’s regular production cars, consistently producing models that were the best in class.  It created the template that became the envy of many manufacturers - either those competing with or aspiring to be the special enthusiast variants - by comprehensively revamping solid mass market sedans and coupes into some of the best enthusiast cars from any era. The management at BMW understands the importance of M Division, and celebrated the 50th year of the CSL in 2023 with a special new 3.0 CSL - a lightweight, hand-built coupe inspired by the original CSL from the early 1970’s. 

Given this recent historic event, it’s the perfect time to consider this lovely example of the “original” M car. The “L” in the CSL nomenclature stands for Lightweight, and accurately reflects the detail differences from the model it was based on. The unit body itself was built from thinner steel than the regular version, used aluminum for the doors, hood and trunk, and some even had Perspex for the side windows. This German from new CSL features the lightweight large front air dam with chrome bumper delete, deleted sound proofing, the rare map reading light, and manual window winders. These early CSL’s remain some of the most desirable BMW’s on the market, both because of their looks and exclusivity.

This 3.0 CSL is registered in Belgium, and the current owner has records and documentation regarding the care and maintenance dating back as far as 1996, including the factory service book. Notable entries include the Certificate of Authenticity dated December of 2013 from BMW Classic in anticipation of a sale, confirming the matching numbers and original Gulf Yellow, and receipts from most major services with itemized lists of expenses.

Under the stewardship of the current owner, SCI ordered a service/refurbishment, performed by Classic Sports Cars in Denmark. This included attention to its cooling system, injection and brakes, in preparation for its current availability. The total cost of that service came to 138,000 Danish krones (the equivalent of USD $19,770). 

Agile, powerful and clad in a striking, period-correct color, this BMW set a new standard for the Bavarian brand. With its extensively documented service history, verified matching numbers, and still retaining its precious alloy panels from new, this cherished example offers an attractive opportunity for those who wish to enjoy their classic car investments on the road.