One to Buy: 1973 BMW E9 3.2 CSL 'Batmobile'
One to Buy - BMW - BMW E9 CSL
Although BMW made a major investment to bring the E9 3.0 CSL to fruition (including the establishment of an entirely new Motorsport department), the works team failed to win any of the opening three rounds of the 1973 European Touring Car Championship.
Although the factory crew had won the only DRM race of the year thus far (and scored a class win at the Le Mans 24 Hours), it was clear that further refinements would be needed if the CSL was to become the dominant force BMW expected.
Fortunately BMW Motorsport had readied a package of updates for the second half of the year focused principally on a radical aero kit and an engine enlarged from 3.0 to 3.2-litres.
As a result of its striking new appearance, this latest iteration of the CSL was nicknamed Batmobile.
Two colours were offered, Chamonix White and Polaris Metallic.
The competition upgrades were homologated from July 1st 1973 and, over the next four months, 110 road-going replicas were built. A second batch of 57 cars was subsequently completed between January 1974 and October 1975 which took total production to 167 units (all of which were left-hand drive).
Today the Batmobile ranks among the most desirable BMWs ever built and, thanks to its on-track exploits, a giant of the touring car scene.
Currently on offer at the Route da Sagno showroom in Reggio Emilia is this low mileage Polaris Silver Metallic example: chassis 2275484.
Presented in beautifully restored condition and with just 66,834km showing on the odometer, it is priced at €520,000.
