Back in 1975, artist Alexander Calder created the first ever BMW Art Car in the now famed series. Commissioned by French auctioneer and racing driver Hervé Poulain, the 3.0 CSL competed in the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans driven by Jean Guichet, Sam Posey, and Poulain. It failed to finish, retiring after nine hours with universal joint failure. Unfortunately it was also one of Calder’s last pieces as he died later the same year.

This car is not Calder’s original creation, rather a replica. But don’t judge it too harshly as it was built with the intention of paying tribute to the original, which has travelled the world in exhibitions but is sadly never driven. This particular Batmobile Art Car started life as a standard CSL road car and has been painstakingly prepared starting with the correct original CSL dry sump. Painted to represent the Art Car using all original wings and fenders with around one thousand hours spent on the bodywork before it even reached the paint-shop. Pushing roughly 420bhp and running on slicks, it weighs as close to 1000 kilograms as they can get it.