www.lezebre.eu

Exterior color: Chamonix (085)

Factory option: presumably with the ‘City Pack’ options.

Original factory headrests
Complete boot tool kit

Additional equipment:

Modifications:

4 speed gearboxreplaced with a 5 speed over drive
Lip spoiler on the boot

CSL History:

This history was compiled following the ‘rediscovery’ of the car in Western Australia in late 2018. Based on discussions with the present owner and research undertaken in the UK it appears the car has been in storage from at least 1984, across several owners.

At time of last registration in 1983car is shown as having had one previous owner – doesn’t detail who.

Car is also to be found in ‘CSL News’ from May 1985. The car is listed as owned by Mrs Rodwell and as for sale. It’s presumed she is the last owner to have registered the car in the UK in 1983.

The same edition carries a for sale ad in the back of the magazine for a CSL described as follows:

“BMW 3.0 CSL 1972 – 7” minilites, some rear damage but easily restorable.

Tel 01 864 5208 (day)

01 866 3960 (evenings)

While it cannot be proved this ad is for CSL 251 the fact it’s listed as for sale in the VIN register at the front of the same magazine and the description referring to ‘rear damage, minilites and restorable’ matches the condition and description of the car as barn found in 2019, with the exception of the rear boot spoiler. At the time of purchase in 2019 the rear boot was a genuine CSL boot but wasn’t attached to the car and showed no evidence of ever carrying a spoiler. It’s entirely possible the ‘rear damage’ noted in the 1985 ad included damage to the original boot lid.

It’s contended the car was taken off the road in 1983 on account of structural rust in the sills and fender boxes, still present in 2019 in addition to light rear crash damage. as the car would have potentially failed a vehicle inspection. On account of the car being advertised a short time later Mrs Rodwell was either unwilling or unable to restore the car.

The CSL and has been hiding in a shed over here in Australia for 20+ years.
Prior to that it spent a decade in a crate in Hong Kong.
VIN is 2285251
Have found a few bits of history on it with Mark Thompson's help but he suggested you might be able to help.
Have the obvious stuff such as a Vin search from the UK, shows it was last registered in 1983. Also a UK CSL magazine ad from 1982 showing it as for sale.

Update 2018 from a potential buyer

The car is complete although somewhat dismantled. It has the aluminium doors, hood and trunk as well as the Scheel seats.

I did hear it running a few years back.