You can own a piece of BMW M history, assuming you have unlimited money

The 1970s were a wild time in the automotive industry. New technologies, new thinking and increasing competition meant that car manufacturers had to think outside the box to stand out. For BMW, this meant starting a factory-backed racing team. The idea, spearheaded by the infamous Bob Lutz, resulted in BMW’s first M car, which you can now buy.

This 1972 BMW 3.0 CSL Werks development car was the first car built by the then newly developed BMW Motorsport division. M built the car, E9/R1, in late 1972 and early 1973, becoming the first of 21 CSL Werks cars, 11 of which were raced by the works team. The E9/R1 would also aid in the development of the Batmobile Aero kit.

According to the car, the car had some competition Dylan Miles listbut BMW Motorsport sold it at the end of the 1973 season to an American racing team for the 1974 IMSA Championship. After a year at IMSA, the team sold the cars and later retired.

The E9/R1 would end up in a BMW collection in the early 1980s before the current private owner acquired the car in the mid-1990s. Since then, the vehicle has undergone an extensive restoration aimed at preserving the car’s originality. It’s rare for a development vehicle to last this long with all the parts still attached.

The car has spent the better part of three decades behind closed doors, but did make a hill climb at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed ​​in its pre-homologation specification. It made its most recent public appearance at the Salon Prive Concours D’Elegance in August 2025, equipped with the Batmobile kit.

Just a few years ago, BMW paid tribute to the CSLs with the limited edition 3.0 CSL. The automaker built just 50, with a 553-horsepower version of BMW’s 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine with a manual gearbox. It also had unique bodywork, including a prominent wing similar in style to the iconic Batmobile.

This car has the larger 3.5-liter inline-six, which produces more than 400 horsepower, according to the listing. The offer has no price; you will receive this when you register. Success.