1974 BMW 3.0 4355031CSL "Batmobile" 

Photo below circa 2002/2005

Below: circa 197X

 

Title:

• J 91 M
• 1974 YP 67
• 1975->: GAP M 969
• -> 1975: M DJ 2199

Year: 1974

Outside color: Chamonix (085)

Improvements:

3,003 cc Alpina-tuned B2-specification inline six-cylinder engine, Getrag five-speed manual gearbox

History as published in 2022:

Chamonix White (code 85) Batmobile chassis 4355031, the 31st Second Series car built, was manufactured on 27 June 1974, left the production line on 11 July 1974 and registered M-DJ-2199 in Munich on 15 July 1974. It was not sold through the usual dealer network.

A letter from BMW Mobile Tradition dated 7 September 2005 to the then UK owner confirms that chassis 4355031 was delivered directly to BMW M GmbH: “There the car was used as a test car”.

Amongst its other duties, ‘4355031’ was loaned long-term to BMW works driver and March F1 and F2 hot shot Hans-Joachim Stuck for his personal use. At that time, German magazine Auto Motor und Sport interviewed the national sporting hero and Stuck stated that the CSL “felt as if it were a piece of myself”; it fitted him like a glove. Photographs accompanying the car show Stuck sitting on the bonnet, its M-DJ-2199 registration clearly visible, and the star at the wheel with long-term girlfriend sitting in the passenger seat.

Like most works-owned cars, chassis 4355031 was not retained by the factory for very long. It was sold to its first private owner on 4 March 1975, mainly due to Stuck’s close ties with former World Cup Alpine ski racer Christian Neureuther of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The sale to Neureuther was made possible by his sponsor, German ski binding specialist Marker. Neureuther and his wife Rosi Mittermeier, another winter sports champion, were friends of Stuck who introduced company owner and founder Hannes Marker to Jochen Neerpasch. The car was re-registered locally, GAP-M-969

In an email to later owner Yannick Bernat, Neureuther remembers the car with fondness and that Marker his sponsor had actually paid for the car, transferring ownership to him before it was sold on 7 July 1978 to Josef Zahler, another Garmisch-Partenkirchen resident. Zahler was to own it for 17 years. While in his care, a Technischer Überwachungsverein [TÜV] Bayern (official insurance valuation report for the state of Bavaria) for the car dated 16 August 1990 lists two previous owners: Hans-Joachim Stuck and Christian Neureuther. The state-regulated institute reported the car as, “Very good, but not excellent”.

Five years later, Zahler sold ‘4355031’ to acclaimed French BMW authority Yannick Bernat. The transaction occurred on 7 July 1995. The car was tired and in need of professional work. Bernat remembers its condition as “fair” but held work off until autumn 1995. Using his stock of incredibly rare, original and authentic parts, Bernat commissioned German CSL expert Dieter Tögel to carry out a total body-off restoration. Any parts that needed replacing were sourced in house or from older BMW dealers and specialists. Wherever possible, only correct CSL parts, panels and pieces of interior trim were used: the correct-gauge thin front wings; front spoiler; front suspension, springs and dampers; chrome wheel arch extensions; genuine CSL rear bumper, etc.

At the same time, Alpina specialist Bernat sourced a B2 engine from the world-renowned BMW tuners of Buchloe in Bavaria. In B2 tune, the Alpina-BMW ’six displaced 2,986cc and produced 230bhp @ 6,750rpm, with 270Nm torque–a significant increase over the standard CSL motor. Alpina played a key role in the development of a racing version of the E9 coupé, so were the obvious choice for a period-correct replacement unit. Despite often running a smaller-capacity engine of its own design, the company’s orange Jägermeister car was the only real rival to the pair of works CSLs throughout 1973, winning outright at Silverstone.

A sizeable folder of colour photos documenting the comprehensive restoration accompanies the car. When finished in 1996, Bernat used the car only in good weather and took it to classic car events such as the Oldtimer Grand Prix and Le Mans Classic.

In summer 2005 ownership passed to London lawyer Tony Badenoch. The sale was handled by preeminent UK BMW specialist Barney Halse, who carried out comprehensive recommissioning work on the car including converting the headlamps to dip on the left-hand side of the road. The car was fully prepared for an entry to the BMW-sponsored 2006 Villa d’Este concours, when the owner drove it from London to Lake Como. Speaking to British Magazine Motor Sport , Badenoch explained: “It’s by invitation only. If you get asked you can hardly say no, can you?” The barrister won the Long-Distance award for his endeavours–the car was granted a FIVA Identity Card prior to the event.

Badenoch kept the car until May 2010 when our client, a well-known member of a notable historic motor racing family, experienced racing driver and passionate Stuck enthusiast, purchased it at auction. Whilst in his tenure, chassis 4355031 continued to be maintained by Halse and invoices on file include £16,373 for various work on suspension and brakes in 2017.

A planned reunion for the car with Hans Stuck at the 2019 Goodwood Members’ Meeting was not to be, though the German remembered the car well, offered to sign it and ‘4355031’ formed part of the line-up of ex-Stuck racing cars at the event. It has also been displayed in the Earl’s Court Motor Show at the Goodwood Revival.

Porsche built 1,580 examples of the famous 1973 2.7 RS, 200 of which were lightweights for use in competition. More exclusive, and no less successful on the race tracks, the BMW 3.0 CSL Batmobile is another truly great homologation special. The image of Hans-Joachim Stuck jumping a midnight blue CSL at the ’Ring in 1974 has entered motor racing folklore. That the great German F1 star, tin-top expert and double Le Mans winner once ran this very car as personal transport makes ‘4355031’, a rare Second Series Batmobile, one of the most desirable.

 

History as published around 2010

The car is confirmed by BMW records as “Testwagen M GmbH” (M Division test car), first allocated by BMW GmbH for use by Hans-Joachim Stuck, as confirmed by a copy of the original German registration papers. Stuck, son of the legendary Hans Stuck, is well known to motorsports enthusiasts as the “Regenmeister” (Rain Master), DTM champion and former Formula One driver. This car was officially road-registered on 14th July 1974, the very morning after Stuck was photographed while airborne at speed in his works car during the Nürburgring 6 Hours. Stuck, whom Auto Motor und Sport photographed with 4355031, stated that he felt “as if it were a piece of myself.”

Next, Christian Neureuther, a member of the West German Olympic ski team and friend of Stuck, purchased the car through his sponsor from Jochen Neerpasch, the head of BMW Motorsport GmbH. Neureuther kept 4355031 until 1978, selling it to Joseph Zahler, who retained it until 1995 when undisclosed 1, a world-renowned CSL expert, purchased it. undisclosed 1 undertook a full restoration to perfection, using original BMW parts including the correct thin-gauge alloy body panels and “aero kit” together with a period Alpina-tuned B2-specification engine, confirmed by Alpina records and numbered “1434.” Alpina has enjoyed decades of success as one of the world’s preeminent BMW tuners, along with A.C. Schnitzer and others. In fact, BMW’s development of the CSL was prompted by Alpina’s own success in racing the capable coupé.

In 2005, its current caretaker acquired the CSL, and in 2006 it was exhibited by invitation at Villa d’Este, as one of just six cars taken from worldwide collections to form Class H – “The Competition and the Show.” Driven from London to the event, it was awarded the trophy for the car driven the furthest distance. In fact, it has also been used for trips to the Le Mans Classic.

Maintained to the highest standards by UK-based specialists, 4355031 is in virtually perfect condition today. It is quite probably the only “Batmobile” in this condition worldwide, including its original second series-specific BMW triple-fin rear wing and adjustable driver’s seat by Scheel. As such, its offering a truly unique opportunity car with impeccable unbroken provenance, extensive documentation and motorsport celebrity ownership. Of course, it is eligible and ultra-competitive for all major events, accompanied by FIVA Identity Card 027088 issued in February 2006.

 

L’auto version routière offerte ici, châssis 4355031, est le 31éme exemplaire de juste 57 autos de deuxième série produites entre 1974 et 1975. Il est confirmé par les archives BMW qu’elle a été une auto d’essais de la division M: une “Testwagen M GmbH”, initialement affectée par BMW GmbH pour l’usage de Hans-Joachim Stuck, comme confirmé par une copie des documents originaux Allemands d’immatriculation. Stuck, fils du légendaire Hans Stuck, est bien connu des passionnés de sport automobile comme étant le maître du pilotage sous la pluie: “Regenmeister”, champion du DTM et ex pilote de Formule Un. Cette auto fut officiellement immatriculée le 14 Juillet 1974, le lendemain même du jour où Stuck fut photographié dans les airs avec son auto de course d’usine après une bosse sur le Nürburgring pendant la course des six heures, photo devenue célèbre. Le lendemain alors qu’il prenait livraison de 4355031 la revue Auto Motor und Sport photographia aussi cette occasion, Stuck disant alors que “L’auto est comme une extension de mon corps.” Tellement elle et lui étaient en symbiose.

L’auto fut après cela achetée par Christian Neureuther, un membre de l’équipe de ski Olympique Ouest Allemande et ami de Stuck, il l’acquit grâce à son sponsor par le biais de Jochen Neerpasch, directeur de BMW Motorsport GmbH. Neureuther garda 4355031 jusqu’en 1978, puis la vendit à Joseph Zahler, qui la garda jusqu’en 1995 quand annonyme 1, expert CSL mondialement reconnu, l’acheta. Annonyme 1 la fit restaurer entièrement à la perfection, utilisant des pièces originales BMW, y compris les panneaux de carrosserie allégés et un “aero kit” avec aussi un moteur préparé Alpina de spécification B2, comme confirmé par les archives Alpina et numéroté “1434.” Alpina a eu du succès pendant des décennies en tant que l’un des principaux préparateurs BMW aux côtés de rivaux comme A.C. Schnitzer et autres. En fait, c’est le succés d’Alpina en course qui inspira le développement de la CSL par BMW.

Le propriétaire actuel acquit la CSL en 2005, et en 2006 elle fut exhibée par invitation à Villa d’Este, en tant que l’une de seulement six autos choisies dans les plus belles collections mondiales pour constituer la catégorie H – “The Competition and the Show” (la course et le concours). Conduite depuis Londres jusqu’au concours, elle reçut le trophée de l’auto ayant été conduite sur la plus grande distance. Elle a d’ailleurs plusieurs fois été utilisée pour aller au Mans Classic.

Entretenue sans le moindre compromis par des spécialistes en Grande Bretagne, 4355031 est aujourd’hui offerte en état virtuellement parfait. Elle est presque certainement la seule “Batmobile” existante dans cet état et comprend son aileron spécifique des séries deux à trois lames et son siège Scheel ajustable. En tant que telle elle représente une occasion unique avec provenance impeccable et ininterrompue, une documentation très complète et ayant appartenu à un pilote célèbre. Elle est bien sûr apte à être invitée dans les plus grands évènements et à y être très compétitive. Elle a sa carte d’identité FIVA numéro 027088 issue en Février 2006.

Per undisclosed 1, the car has been fully restored. My assumption is between 1995 and 2002

 

Transactions:

• 2022: for sale with Swiss dealer Kidston SA
• Saturday, May 1, 2010: offered at auction, estimate: €130.000-€190.000, sold for €128.800.

 

Owners:

1. 2010: auctioned by RM in Monte Carlo
2. 2005->2010: Tony Badenoch, UK registration
3. 7/7/1995->2005: Undisclosed 1
4. 7/71978->7/71995: Joseph Zahler
5. Christian Neureuther (famous ski champion)
6. 14 July 1974: titled by Hans-Joachim Stuck