Description
One of the most beautiful. One of the most underrated. The 3. 0 CSL is a car that looks amazing even when parked next to cars worth ten times the amount. As a classic it ticks every box; racing pedigree, limited numbers (500 RHD), beautiful styling, period feel – and most importantly, that mystery ingredient that attracts so many people to its distinctive lines.
The 3. 0 CSL was so expensive back in 1972 – twice the price of your average house – that very few people could afford one. Remember that until BMW started to win on track with the CSL, the company was more known for producing Eastern-bloc style nasty square boxes. And with the war a recent memory for many people, German cars were not necessarily flavour of the month. But a few people got it. Driving a CSL now you can see just how ahead of the pack BMW really were. Compare, say, an E-type Jag, or even some of the more expensive Italian exotica, and it’s not hard to see why the CSL then cleaned up at the race track for the next five or so years.
The few who ‘got it’ soon spread the word. And despite the relative commercial failure of the CSL – UK cars had to have a ‘city pack’ of toys fitted to entice people to part with their £6800, which promptly added back most of the weight shed for the ‘L’ designation – a cult following was born. But those who remember the CSL from their childhood, with relatives or friends who owned one of these incredibly rare cars, the memory has never left them. Many of them end up in our showroom, hoping to find the car of their dreams.
Set up right, the CSL drives like the GT it was always meant to be and still impresses even today. The 3. 0 M30 engine – which went on to power a huge swathe of BMWs in various forms right into the 90’s – throws out a smooth but very vigorous 200bhp, making it a seriously quick machine by the standards of the time. And by 70’s classic car standards the CSL is a very reliable machine, with good parts availability for all but the odd piece of trim.
This ‘project car’ is in fact pretty solid, pretty well presented and definitely ownable/ driveable with minimum fettling. Of course, as an unrestored car, this CSL does need a decent birthday – the paintwork is inconsistent and there are areas that need taking care of bodywork-wise, but this car really does present a brilliant opportunity to grab a decent CSL at a very affordable price.
For more information, please contact our showroom team – we will recommend viewing the car to understand the full condition, viewings are by appointment only please.
