Starting in 1961, with the excellent engine with overhead camshaft, installed on the ‘new generation’ of 1500 saloons, BMW’s success continued to grow. A key step was taken in 1968 with the first six-cylinder engines, the 2500 and 2800, leading to elegant Coupés with very light interiors and 2.5-3.2-litre engines following the saloons’. 

The injection versions culminated in 206bhp, and the engines’ excellence and brio incited BMW to propose a special, lighter version, the 3.0 CSL Coupé, with panelled aluminium bodywork. The use of injection, and a small increase in capacity, took basic engine-power to 206bhp. The highly prepared Group 2 racing versions, with elaborate aerodynamic fittings, earned countless victories, including two wins at the Le Mans 24 Hours – in the Special Tourism class in 1973 and 1974.

When sold from new, the CSL wasn’t fitted with the the rear wing, nor the chrome flares. Instead these were included in the trunk of the car to be optionally fitted by the dealer or the car’s first owner.

type	Series Production Car
production years	1973 – 1975
production	1096
engine	Inline-6
position	Front, Longitudinal
aspiration	Natural
valvetrain	SOHC, 2 Valves per Cyl
fuel feed	Bosch Fuel Injection
displacement	3153 cc / 192.41 in³
bore	89.3 mm / 3.5 in
stroke	84 mm / 3.3 in
compression	9.5:1
power	152.9 kw / 205 bhp @ 5600 rpm
specific output	65.02 bhp per litre
bhp/weight	161.42 bhp per tonne
torque	286.1 nm / 211 ft lbs @ 4200 rpm
body / frame	Unitary Steel Monocoque
driven wheels	RWD
front brakes	Discs
rear brakes	Discs
steering	Rack & Pinion
f suspension	McPherson Struts
r suspension	Trailing Arms
curb weight	1270 kg / 2800 lbs
wheelbase	2625 mm / 103.3 in
front track	1470 mm / 57.9 in
rear track	1426 mm / 56.1 in
length	4630 mm / 182.3 in
width	1730 mm / 68.1 in
height	1370 mm / 53.9 in
transmission	4-Speed Manual
top speed	~220 kph / 136