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So, did you
guess? It's a 3.0 CSL, called the Batmobile because of
the large wing on the back.
The 3.0 CSL race
cars were the first cars to be developed under BMW
Motorsport GmbH. They were also the first to sport the newly
designated official colors of BMW Motorsport - red, blue and
purple - and the first to use ABS.
The 3.0 CSL won
5 European Touring Car Championships between 1973 and 1979,
as well as national championships in several countries. CSLs
were so successful they continued to win races into the late
1970s even though production ended in 1975 to make way for
its successor, the 6 Series.
Thanks to the
development of a four-valve cylinder head, the BMW
six-cylinder engine grew from 3.2 to 3.5 liters and
increased in horsepower from 340 to 430. The racers differed
from the standard 3.0 CSL's in that they had the larger 3.2
liter engines and the distinctive spoiler.
By 1974, BMW
Motorsport was eager to homologate their only 3.5 liter
engine for production-based racing. That homologation
required the production of a run of higher powered road
cars. The result was the fitting of their 3.2 liter (3153
cc) engine to the 3.0 CSL which increased horsepower by 6bhp
(to 206bhp) and torque.
In addition to
the larger engine, Series 3 cars were often supplied with a
package of aerodynamic components so dramatic that the name
"Batmobile" was soon applied. That package consisted of a
very large rear wing, a more traditional rear spoiler and
front fender spats. These components were very successful in
competition.
There were 167
Batmobiles built in total (including the series 3.5 cars)
all of which were finished in either Polaris silver or
Chamonix white.
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