BMW CSL 3.0

Building off the racing success of the CSL 3.0 in Group 2, BMW eventually created 12 cars for Groups 4 and 5.

The BMW 3.0 CSL race cars were the first cars to be developed under the new BMW Motorsport GmbH subsidiary, established in 1972 and led by Jochen Neerpasch. They were also the first to sport the new official colors of BMW Motorsport-red, violet and blue.

Based on the production 3.0 CS Coupe, the aluminum skinned CSL (L = lightweight) homologation special, nicknamed the 'Batmobile' by its fans, formed the basis for an assault on Group 2 through Group 5 European touring car racing that would make it one of the most successful production racers of all time. In fact, the CSL continued to win races into the late 1970's, even though production ended in 1975 to make way for its successor, the BMW 6 Series.

Chassis 2275982

BMW CSL 3.0 Chassis 2275982
Place	Car Sponsor	Car # Class	Event	Ref. #	Image
1000 km Nürburgring (GT Classes Only)
1	BMW CSL 3.5 'Gosser Beer' Dieter Quester Albrecht Krebs	7 Gr. 5 +3.0	Spark	SG022
			Ixo	GTM096

Chassis 2275985

This 3.0 CSL (Chassis No. 2275985) was one of a group of five chassis built and campaigned by BMW Motorsport in North America in the 1975 & '76 IMSA Camel GT Series in Group 4 specifications. The cars were powered by a 3.5 liter, 430 hp version BMW inline-6 engine with double overhead cams and four valve cylinder heads. Campaigned under the racing numbers No. 24 and No. 25, the CSL enjoyed considerable success winning at Sebring, Riverside, Laguna Seca, Daytona and Talladega in 1975. Several iconic drivers were involved in the American success of the CSL, including Hans Stuck, Sam Posey, Brian Redman, Ronnie Peterson, Dieter Quester, Benny Parsons, Peter Gregg and David Hobbs. All five chassis are still in existence.

BMW CSL 3.0 Chassis 2275985
Place	Car Sponsor	Car # Class	Event	Ref. #	Image
1975 - Sebring 12 Hours
1	BMW 3.0 CSL Brian Redman Allan Moffat Sam Posey Hans-Joachim Stuck	25 GTO	Minichamps	430 752925

Chassis 2275987

In 1976, Chassis No. 2275987 campaigned as the No. 59 car driven by Brian Redman, Peter Gregg, and John Fitzpatrick won the 24hr of Daytona.

2275987 was raced by Tom Walkinshaw in 1976 in Hermitite livery.

BMW CSL 3.0 Chassis 2275987
Place	Car Sponsor	Car # Class	Event	Ref. #	Image
1976 - Daytona 24 Hours
1	BMW 3.0 CSL Peter Gregg Brian Redman John Fitzpatrick	59 GTO	Minichamps	430 762959

Chassis 2275988

#2275988 was one of 12 factory group 4/5 CSL's. As a Group 4 car It's first race was Daytona 1975 (Stuck/Posey) , Then Sebring (Stuck/Posey) and Road Atlanta (Posey) it was then called back to BMW Motorsport for use in Europe. Between the 1975 and 1976 season it was upgraded by the factory to Group 5 specification and ran with Grohs/de Flerlant/ Posey for the next 2 years. It finished 2nd in GT at Le Mans in 1976. It was then sold to Vasek Polak and he ran the car at Laguna Seca in 1977 in the black livery as it ran at Le Mans. Before the IMSA race at Laguna Seca 1978 he painted the car white with stripes and ran that single race

Originally raced in IMSA GTO (basically Group 4) spec at Daytona in 1975 Upgraded to Group 5 for 1976 Painted black for Le Mans 1976 Sold to Vasek Polak along with Chassis 2275987 and run at Laguna Seca in 1977, Run in white 'Vasek Polak' colors at Laguna in 1978 as car #01

BMW CSL 3.0 Chassis 2275988
Place	Car Sponsor	Car # Class	Event	Ref. #	Image
1975 - Sebring 12 Hours
DNF	BMW 3.0 CSL Hans-Joachim Stuck Sam Posey	24 GTO	Minichamps (Hans Stuck Collection)	444 752924
1976 - Le Mans 24 Hours
10	BMW 3.0 CSL Harald Grohs Sam Posey Hughes de Fierlandt	42 Gr. 5	Spark	S1568
1978 - Laguna Seca 100 Miles
9	BMW CSL 3.5 John Morton (Car raced only once in a similar livery as #01; The #45 closely represents car as-raced later in historic racing)	01 GTO	Del Prado