BMW 3.0CSL
by Chris Hafner
on September 25, 2007
The
BMW 3.0CS/CSL is a long-time favorite of mine. Not only do its lean,
delicate lines make it one of the prettiest and most influential BMWs
ever made, but it also was a lovely and potent race car.The
BMW 1600, 2000, and 2002 are widely credited with creating BMW's
performance image in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s; while
true, this underplays the role the 3.0CS/CSL played. While the 1600,
2000, and 2002 were agile featherweights, the 3.0CS/CSL was a more
substantial sports coupe, featuring the grunt of an early version of
BMW's legendary and silky inline six engine.
As
befitting the immediate ancestor of the 6-series, the 3.0CS was both
quick and light on its feet for its time. The CSL was a sportier,
ultra-lightweight version that became the foundation of the dominant
European Touring Car Championship "Batmobile" racers and is widely
credited as being the first project of the nascent BMW Motorsport
group--the architects of BMW's M-series super sedans.
As
significant as the performance was the look--it conveys muscularity
without excessive bulk, sports fine detailing without being fussy, and
balances aggressiveness with class. The 3.0CS/CSL has perhaps the
nicest execution of BMW's traditional forward-leaning double-kidney
grille and quad round headlights.
You don't see many pristine 3.0CS/CSLs anymore, but those that survived unmolested still look stunning even today.
These cars were designated "E9" coupes in BMW's internal naming system; E9 Coupe.com
is one of many excellent sites discussing these cars, with a user
forum, tech specs, and a great gallery--the source of these photos.--Chris H.
Zweck on August 04, 2008 at 10:47 PM
While I love and look forward to reading more diatribes expounding the virtues of Saabs, French cars, and Malaise era wonders, this is the true car of my automotive dreams. Everything about it seems so balanced and complete. I love the site by the way, and am almost finished reading the archives as I too am afflicted with the auto illness and a desire for nightmarish mechanicals. Keep up the awesome work.