1973 BMW 3.0 CSA

Coming to auction at Concours House, Bradford-on-Avon, with Dore & Rees Motoring on Saturday 21st November.

1973 BMW 3.0 CSA

Registration Number: AES 82L
Chassis Number: 2231739

-UK-supplied, right-hand-drive automatic example
-Striking Ceylon Gold metallic with blue interior
-Recent mechanical and interior attention by BMW specialists Munich Legends and Marque Specialists

Introduced in 1968, BMW's elegant E9 Coupé remains one of the marque's most celebrated designs, it combined graceful pillarless styling with genuine sporting credentials and long-distance refinement. Developed from the earlier 2000 CS, the larger-engined 3.0-litre models established BMW as a serious contender in the luxury grand touring market. At their heart lay the company's renowned M30 straight-six, a wonderfully smooth and torquey engine that delivered effortless performance and became one of BMW's most enduring powerplant designs.

The 3.0 CS offered a compelling blend of performance and sophistication, while the CSA variant paired the six-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission, providing powerful and relaxed grand touring manners. These were expensive and exclusive motor cars when new, costing more in the UK than an Aston Martin DBS, and today are rightly regarded as among the finest sporting coupés of the 1970s.

This particularly handsome example is a rare UK-supplied, right-hand-drive CSA, believed to be one of only 27 remaining on UK roads. Finished in its attractive original shade of Ceylon Gold metallic, it is complemented by a dark blue interior, which retains a pleasing and honest patina. The combination suits the elegant proportions of the E9 beautifully, while the car's overall presentation reflects careful and sympathetic ownership over the years.

The BMW has benefited from an older restoration, photographic evidence of which is included in the history file. More recently, the car has received considerable attention, including a gearbox and interior refresh undertaken by the highly regarded Munich Legends. A sympathetic upgrade in the form of an Alpina steering wheel has also been fitted.

Significant expenditure has been undertaken over the past 18 months, with over £10,000 invested in its upkeep and improvement. Most recently, the car has received a full service and inspection by specialists Brad's Classic & Specialist Cars. The accompanying history file documents considerable expenditure and maintenance by both current and previous custodians. Although MOT exempt by virtue of its age, the BMW is supplied with a current MOT certificate and is also ULEZ compliant. The Odometer shows 36,050 recorded miles.

A beautifully presented E9, which represents an increasingly scarce opportunity to acquire one of BMW's most elegant sporting coupés. With its attractive period colour combination and substantial recent investment, this 3.0 CSA offers a particularly appealing blend of originality, refinement and usability.