The 1970s were a wild time in the automotive industry. New technologies, new thinking and increased competition mean automakers have had to think outside the box to stand out. For BMW, that means launching a factory-backed race team. Led by the infamous Bob Lutz, this idea resulted in BMW’s first M car, which you can now buy.
This 1972 BMW 3.0 CSL works development car was the first car built by the then newly formed BMW Motorsport division. M built the car, the E9/R1, in late 1972 and early 1973, becoming the first of 21 CSL works cars, 11 of which were raced by the factory team. The E9/R1 will also help develop the Batmobile aero kit.
Listed by Dylan Miles, the car saw some competition, but BMW Motorsport sold it to an American racing team for the 1974 IMSA championship at the end of the 1973 season. After his one-year stint in IMSA, the team sold the cars and later retired.
The E9/R1 would end up in a BMW collection in the early 80s before the current private owner acquired the car in the mid-1990s. Since then, the vehicle has undergone an extensive restoration focused on preserving the car’s originality. It’s rare for a development vehicle to have all its parts still attached.
Photo by: Dylan Miles
The car has spent the better part of three decades behind closed doors, but it made the hill climb at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed in its pre-homologation guise. It made its most recent public appearance at the Salon Privé Cours d’Elegance in August 2025, paired with a Batmobile kit.
BMW paid tribute to the CSL a few years ago with the limited-run 3.0 CSL. The automaker built just 50 of them, featuring a 553-horsepower version of BMW’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine and a manual gearbox. It also featured unique bodywork, including a prominent wing similar to the iconic Batmobile in styling.
The car has a big 3.5-liter inline-six, which is listed as making more than 400 horsepower. There’s no listing cost – you’ll get it when you apply. Good luck
