1970's Super Car Classic
Another super car from my top five cars of all time, the Bavarian beauty, aka the 'Batmobile'. Introduced in May 1972, the E9 3.0CSL was a homologation special built to make the car eligible for racing in the European Touring Car Championships. The "L" in the designation meant "leicht" (light), unlike in other BMW designations, where it meant "lang" (long). The lightness was achieved by using thinner steel to build the unit body, deleting the trim and soundproofing, using aluminium alloy doors, bonnets, and boot lids, and using Perspex side windows. The five hundred 3.0CSLs exported to the UK were not quite as light as the others, as the importer had insisted on retaining the soundproofing, electric windows, and stock E9 bumpers on these cars.
The full aero package that the racing CSLs carried earn the car the 'Batmobile' nickname - due to it's resemblance to Bat Man's own super car.
An interesting development emerged along with the 3.0CSL; the BMW 'Art Car' Project. This concept was introduced by the French racecar driver and auctioneer Herve Poulain, who wanted to invite an artist to create a canvas on an automobile. It was in 1975, when Poulain commissioned American artist and friend Alexander Calder to paint the first in the series.
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