1975 BMW 3.0 CSL IMSA GT
- Engine
- 3.5L upright inline-six (M49/3)
- Colour
- Sebring-winning livery with #25 race graphics
Chassis 2275987 is one of five BMW 3.0 CSLs constructed for the 1975 IMSA Camel GT Championship, and one of only three not retained by BMW. It scored a landmark outright victory at the 1975 12 Hours of Sebring — driven predominantly by Brian Redman alongside Allan Moffat — overcoming mechanical adversity in the final hours to beat a field of Porsche Carrera RSRs. The car subsequently raced in the 1976 World Championship of Makes under the Hermatite banner before returning to the United States for further IMSA competition and a long period of historic racing.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$1,500,000 – US$2,200,000
- 1975 → 1976Factory deliveryBMW Motorsport / BMW North America racing teamfull documentation
Car was built as one of five factory IMSA GT racers and operated by the BMW North America team under chief mechanic Rudi Gmeiner from an Alabama workshop. Chassis history confirmed in 2016 via mechanic recollections and a handwritten log.
- 1976 → 1976Acquisition unknownHermatite-sponsored race teampartial documentation
Car was loaned to the Hermatite team for the 1976 Daytona race, then shipped to Munich for Group 5 conversion and run in the World Championship of Makes. Ownership may have transferred to Tom Walkinshaw during this period.
- 1976 →Acquisition unknownTom Walkinshawpartial documentation
Prose indicates ownership likely passed to Walkinshaw during the 1976 Hermatite campaign, though this is not definitively confirmed.
- 1997 →Private saleHenry Schmittfull documentation
Principal of BMW of San Francisco who purchased the car from Polak's estate and campaigned it extensively in vintage events, maintaining a logbook of appearances. Servicing handled by Bill Watson's Road Rockets in Sonoma.
- → 1997-04-01Acquisition unknownVasek Polakpartial documentation
Well-known Southern California dealer, race team operator, and collector who acquired the car at some point after its return to the US. Car passed from his estate following his death in April 1997.
Competition
- 1975IMSA Camel GT1975 Road AtlantaDriver: Sam PoseyDNF — accident following rear axle-hub failure
Car reached as high as 4th place before mechanical failure caused an accident; damage was severe enough that the car was withdrawn and returned to the Alabama workshop.
- 1975-02-01IMSA Camel GT1975 Daytona 24 HoursDriver: Ronnie PetersonDNF — engine trouble
Car ran as entry #25 with Peterson and Brian Redman scheduled to drive; retired early due to mechanical failure.
- 1975-03-01IMSA Camel GT1975 12 Hours of SebringDriver: Brian Redman1st overall
Co-driven by Allan Moffat as #25; Sam Posey and Hans-Joachim Stuck later assisted after their own car retired. Redman drove over seven of twelve hours and overcame a wheel bearing failure and dead alternator in the final stages.
- 1976World Championship of Makes1976 Le Mans 24 HoursDNF — early retirement
Prose notes this is a probable but not confirmed identification of the car as the Hermatite BMW that retired early.
- 1976-02-01IMSA Camel GT1976 Daytona 24 HoursDriver: John Fitzpatrick15th place
Car was loaned to the Hermatite-sponsored team and co-driven by Tom Walkinshaw.
- 1976-04-01World Championship of Makes1976 Vallelunga3rd overall
Car had been converted to Group 5 specification in Munich and was entered by the Hermatite team.
- 1976-05-01World Championship of Makes1976 Six Hours of Silverstone1st overall
Outright victory for the Hermatite-entered car running to Group 5 specification.
- 1976-06-01World Championship of Makes1976 Zeltweg2nd overall
Hermatite team entry at the Austrian round of the championship.
- 1978IMSA Camel GT1978 Laguna Seca IMSA GTDriver: John MortonSeries lap record set
Believed to have set a series record at Laguna Seca, though this is not definitively confirmed in the source.
- 20112011 Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival and Concours d'Elegance
Car was presented at this concours event by Henry Schmitt.
- 20162016 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
Car was displayed and reunited with Hans-Joachim Stuck at this event.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1975RepairBobby Allison's garage (Rudi Gmeiner)
Returned to the Alabama workshop after a rear axle-hub failure caused significant accident damage at Road Atlanta; repaired sufficiently to retire the car from active 1975 season use.
Damage was considered serious enough that the team chose to switch to newer cars for the remainder of the 1975 campaign.
- 1976ModificationBMW Motorsport
Shipped to Munich and converted from its IMSA GT configuration to Group 5 specification for European World Championship of Makes competition.
Conversion took place in preparation for the 1976 European season with the Hermatite team.
- —ServiceBill Watson's Road Rockets
Regular servicing carried out during the vintage racing period, with ongoing maintenance provided by BMW specialists at the named Sonoma workshop.
Work performed during Henry Schmitt's ownership alongside dealership servicing; supported by retained service invoices.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.