The #25 BMW 3.0 CSL is used to winning. It finished first in the 1975 Twelve Hours of Sebring with Brian Redman, Hans Stuck, Sam Posey, and Alan Moffat at the wheel. Now, 39 years later, it wins again, taking first in the highly contested BMW 3.0 CSL class at the recently concluded Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance on Amelia Island, Florida. The concours class not only included the #25 Sebring winner currently owned by BMW of North America, but also the Alexander Calder 3.0 CSL that raced at Le Mans in 1975—the very first BMW Art Car.
Closer to home and second-in-class was the beautiful #51 BMW 3.0 CSL that also raced at Le Mans and won the 1973 European Sedan Championship. It is currently owned and still raced in vintage events by long-time BMW CCA members Scott and Fran Hughes. Scott and Fran were among those responsible for starting BMW CCA chapter driving schools and also founded the BMW CCA Club Racing program. They have been named “Friends of the Marque” by the International Council of BMW Clubs and Scott currently serves as a Trustee of the BMW Car Club of America Foundation. It’s great to see them driving and displaying their beautiful CSL and getting the recognition that they and their car deserve.
The BMW 3.0 CSL race cars were the first cars to be developed by BMW Motorsport GmbH, established in 1972 and led by Jochen Neerpasch. They were also the first to be painted with the now iconic BMW Motorsport colors. The CSLs were based on a production car, the 3.0 CS but had aluminum skins, making them much lighter, hence the added “L” for lightweight. Nicknamed the "Batmobile" because of it’s aggressive aerodynamic features such as the big wear wing, it became one of the most successful production racers ever.
The class-winning #25 BMW 3.0 CSL was one of five chassis fielded by the newly formed BMW of North America in the 1975 and 1976 IMSA Camel GT Series. Campaigned under the racing numbers #24 and #25, the CSL was tremendously successful with wins at Sebring, Riverside, Laguna Seca, Daytona, and Talladega in 1975.
The BMW 3.0 CSL class also included the car that won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1976 driven by Brian Redman, Peter Gregg, and John Fitzpatrick.
Some BMW 3.0 CSL models were produced and sold for street use to homologate the car for racing. The road-going BMW 3.0 CSLs featured in the class at Amelia Island included a car entered by Indy 500 winner and the man who put the “R” in BMW Team RLL—Bobby Rahal.
The class-winning—and Sebring-winning—BMW 3.0 CSL #25 will be featured in the Gallery of Legends at this week’s upcoming 12 Hours of Sebring.—Scott Blazey
