1972 BMW 3.0 CSL

2212279roadGermany

Engine: Weber-carbureted replacement inline-six, paired with five-speed manual transmission
Colour: Black with three-color BMW Motorsport stripes

A first-series BMW 3.0 CSL (chassis 2279), one of only 169 carbureted examples built between May 1971 and July 1972, this homologation special was originally delivered to Italy before being exported to the United States in the 1970s. Acquired in 1986 by a noted BMW collector, it underwent a thorough restoration completed in 1997, including a Weber-carbureted replacement engine and five-speed gearbox, finished in black with BMW Motorsport tri-colour stripes. Subsequently fitted with cosmetic details from later CSL production.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold US$131,600
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
1986 → 2014-03-01Acquisition unknown
Well-known BMW collector
partial documentation
Commissioned a thorough restoration concluded in 1997, which included a Weber-carbureted replacement engine, new five-speed gearbox, fresh black repaint, and period-style tricolor striping; work overseen largely by Paul Schultz of Denver.
2014-03-01 →Private sale
Henry Schmitt
partial documentation
Added cosmetic details from later CSL variants, notably a Batmobile-style trunk lid; original lid and matching-numbers engine block retained with the car.
Date unknownFactory delivery
Italian first owner
partial documentation
Car reportedly delivered new to Italy; chain of custody after initial delivery is unclear.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Atlanta-area owner
none documentation
At some point during the 1970s the car was brought to the US and registered in the Atlanta region.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

1997Restoration
Paul Schultz (Denver)
A thorough, multi-year restoration completed in 1997, encompassing a full repaint in black with BMW Motorsport tri-colour stripe graphics. A Weber-carbureted engine was sourced and fitted along with a new five-speed manual gearbox. Work was overseen primarily by Paul Schultz of Denver, with parts supplied by Carl Nelson and technical guidance from marque specialist Richard Conway.
Restoration began in the early 1990s and concluded in 1997; parts and expertise were drawn from multiple specialist sources.
2014
Modification
Several cosmetic details associated with later CSL production were added, most visibly a 'Batmobile'-style boot lid replacing the original; the original lid was retained.
Work carried out after Henry Schmitt's acquisition in March 2014; the original matching-numbers engine block was also retained separately.

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