BMW 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’ (Grp.2)

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16 Aug

An outstanding recreation of the highest calibre, this BMW 3.0 CSL is the product of a four year build by globally renowned marque specialists, Laranca Engineering, and is offered in race-ready condition.

overview

Built upon an original road-going BMW 3.0 CSL donor car, the client’s brief to Laranca some four years ago was, “simply to build the very best race-legal CSL.”

No expense was spared as Laranca devoted themselves to a showcase project which has clearly benefitted from their many years of experience preparing and racing similar examples.

The detail and craftsmanship of componentry is evident throughout the car which, since completion last year, has conducted just two test days. As such, it is offered today in virtually new condition.

The car is ready to race and comes with HTP papers, valid until 2029.

Eligibility

The car is eligible for all major historic touring car series that cater for Group 2 cars of the 1970’s and early 1980’s. Among the most notable in Europe are the Heritage Touring Cup by Peter Auto, and the Historic Touring Car Challenge run by Motor Racing Legends. In the right hands this car is certain to be a front runner in both series.

Provenance

Prior to its recent metamorphosis into this exceptional race car, chassis 2285437’s former life on the road has been well documented, and a pleasingly comprehensive history file accompanies the car.

Chassis & Body

Stripped back to bare metal and acid dipped at the start of the build, any signs of rust or deterioration were cut out and replaced with new metal. The body is seam-welded and painted in the correct works colours of the period, including the stripes which are also painted, not vinyl. Throughout the car, wherever possible, components have been remanufactured in aerospace steel and specially treated in a bid to inject modern reliability to this historic design. Performance items - such as dampers, springs and roll bars - are identical to those found on other well-proven CSLs from the Laranca stable. Including 300 litres of fuel, the car weighs in at 1163kgs.

Engine & Gearbox

The fully rebuilt, 3.5 litre, inline-six cylinder, 12 valve engine breathes through three Weber 50DCO SPW carburettors and has dry sump lubrication. Dyno reports display an outstanding 388bhp at the the flywheel at 6650rpm. Performance in the lower end of the rev range was particularly impressive with over 340ft-lbs (461Nm) of torque at 3750rpm. As with the five-speed Getrag gearbox, the engine has had only two days’ of running since its complete rebuild (in addition to dyno testing).

Spare Parts

In addition to the set of wet tyres and split-rims currently mounted on the car, the sale includes an additional complete set of similar wheels mounted with dry weather slick tyres, approximately one test day old. The car is also fitted with a new two-camera HD2 video vBox which is included in the sale (if you are unfamiliar with the vBox system, consider it simply an outstanding driver training tool).

Advisories

None. The car is ready to race!

Sam Says

“Clearly an exceptional build by Laranca, I anticipate this to be a highly competitive car if campaigned by a driver of some experience. But it needn’t intimidate those fairly new to racing: a CSL is not a hard car to drive, thanks to the abundance of mechanical grip with which they are blessed. And while a recreation like this may lack a period race history, to me as a ‘racer’ it more than makes up for this by being fresh, taught, and unfatigued by the rigours of a forty-year racing career. With a car like this, you can sit on the grid knowing that you have absolutely the right tool for the job of winning. The rest is up to you!”

— Sam Hancock