https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyQo1UDHBOU

The 2 chassis that Luigi received from BMW in 1976 became chassis numbers 001 and 002. It is assumed that the winning chassis from the 1975 Spa 24 Hr race became the third car on the Luigi team for 1976. It is unclear if it was numbered 003 or not as it may have been built up from a street car and may have had a VIN already.

001 has a number plate just behind the right front strut upper attachment point. It is stamped “001” and was painted white. This shot from Silverstone in 1976 seems to show that same white number plate in the same position as on 001 in 2017.

It would be interesting to see if the other 2 cars from 1976-77 have similar plates.

With the sale of 001 to Martino Finotto at the end of the 1976 season, it is assumed that 002 became the lead car on the team and the third car moved to the #2 spot on the team. It was these 2 cars that ran at Le Mans that year, with chassis 002 taking the IMSA class win and finishing 8th OA. 001 did not run at Le Mans, unfortunately.

This photo from Silverstone in 1977 shows the 3 cars in UFO livery. 001 is #5 in the middle. Notice that the banner across the top of the windshield says “Castrol,” and not “Luigi” because by this time in the season Luigi and Finotto had had their spat.

Luigi ran his team VERY lean, renting seats to anyone who could pay to keep the team going.

There is a Luigi Racing Facebook page where an answer to the chassis number question could be posed. Many of the participants live in Europe, and one guy knows Luigi personally.

Thank you / Reference / Credit:

Steve Walker

https://www.bimmer-mag.com/issues/144/articles/the-fab-five#.WVkEk8aZMUE

http://www.stanceworks.com/2015/07/sharknose-week-fig-4-steve-walkers-1976-bmw-csl-luigi-chassis-001/

http://www.sportscardigest.com/indy-brickyard-vintage-racing-2017-report-photos/3/?envira_id=270062&awt_l=BqBHE&awt_m=Jc5qpAEadOs.C0#envira-gallery-wrap-270062