52,806

• One of 500 UK right hand drive City Pack examples
• Fully restored in 2016

The European Touring Car Championship of the early 1970's encouraged performance manufacturers to build some rare and exciting homologation specials, notably Ford with their Escort and Capri derivatives and BMW with their CSL. Its competition success that the CSL dominated, winning the Group 2 European Turning Car Championships in 1973 and 1975-79, with one of the most famous pictures in motorsport showing a Hans Stuck airborne in a late production be-winged 'Batmobile' at the Nürburgring 1000km. Standing for 'Coupe Sport Leicht', the BMW 3.0 CSL was indeed light - having an aluminium bonnet, boot and doors combined with a reduced trim saving a valuable 300lbs in excess weight. With power as standard from the 3.0 straight six giving 206bhp and a strong aero package (front chin spoiler and rear boot lid lip spoiler).

With the majority of cars being sold in Europe, BMW took the decision to introduce the CSL to the UK market but such was its high price that the UK market demanded a few extra creature comforts and cars came fitted with soundproofing, standard glass windows, power steering, electric windows and standard front/rear bumpers and only 500 examples were given the right hand drive 'City Pack' designation. With only 1,039 CSLs produced by BMW they are now highly collectable and sought after, particularly rare original right hand drive factory produced cars, such as this particular example.

This wonderfully presented 3.0 CSL is one of those aforementioned genuine UK right hand drive 'City Pack' examples, with an accompanying letter, dated 2010, from BMW UK confirming the car was built in December 1972 and registered in May 1973. The chassis number 2285302 confirms this further and as such it comes with the benefit of power steering, electric windows front and rear, sound-deadening and would originally have had front and rear bumpers fitted however, a previous keeper opted for the more aggressive look with accompanying deeper CSL /'Batmobile' front spoiler. As with other CSL's the car retains its aluminium bonnet, door skins, roof panel and boot lid. Records show just five previous keepers and in 2009 the car changed hands for the fourth time at which point a lengthy restoration began. The history file shows invoices for parts and works from 2009-2016, £24,000 in parts alone and this time, circa 2011/12, the car spent time at Paul Baker Custom Metalwork Ltd, who many highly regard for their restoration work, especially that in relation to E9 Coupes. PBCM are happy to confirm the works they undertook and hold a large portfolio of images of the car during the bodywork preparation and paint phase of the restoration.

Painted in the original Taiga Green, paint code 72 which is stamped on the Karmann Body tag found on the inside of the NS door shut / 'A' pillar base. The entire body was painted, including underbody, with the addition of body coloured 'stone chip' and then a coating of clear Waxoyl underneath. All other underbody components were stripped, checked and rebuilt as necessary before being painted or powder-coated such as new fittings, bushes etc. We are informed that mechanically the car has been fully checked and covered little mileage since, showing 52,806 miles but with circa 1,000 miles driven since the restoration and rebuild and a new MoT test certificate. Boasting upgraded brakes, with the discs front and rear vented and cross-drilled, the exhaust system is stainless throughout and on opening of the bonnet you will notice not only the stainless strut brace (supplied by Wallothnesch) but also the Alpina inlet manifold, with Jenvey throttle bodies beneath (some original parts supplied with the car) and Emerald M3DK injection. The change to Jenvey/M3DK ECU offers far greater reliability and better availability in serviceable items.

The car is fitted with a matched set of Yokohama tyres on the refurbished CSL alloys, 'Alpina' in style and the car sports an Alpina steering wheel. The rest of the interior appears largely original and in beautiful condition with the correct loop pile carpet. The dash appears all original as do the front and rear door cards. The roof lining replaced during the restoration features the correct perforated black vinyl and the rear 'bucket' seats look completely original. Iconic to the CSL, the front Scheel bucket seats are newly refurbished and, in this instance, enable a recliner adjustment.

A true motoring icon, the CSL is possibly our ultimate 'pin-up' car from the 1970s and finished in Taiga Green metallic this 1972/3 example looks every part the icon. The 'City Pack' offers some more modern features and alongside uprated brakes this car that not only stops traffic due to its breathtaking looks and colour but will still put a smile on any enthusiastic drivers face, as it was always intended to do. Consigned by Mathew Priddy