Classic Cars & Practical Classics.pdf

‘Bury the throttle and the bonnet lifts with anaccompanying vociferous bark, as the enginespins swiftly to the 6400rpm redline’BMW 3.0 CSLThink motor sport in the Seventies and an image of a works BMWCSL in full Teuton attack-mode instantly comes to mind. TheBavarian beast would go on to dominate the decade to secure itsplace as the defining touring car of the era.Yet so comprehensive was its 1972 trouncing by Ford-Cologne’sRS2600 racers – which won 13 out of 16 races – that initially,success looked doubtful. A single victory, in the Nürburgringsix-hour, was scant reward for honest toil and such a devastatingdefeat prompted the formation of a whole new division – BMWMotorsport GmbH.Headed by newly poached Jochen Neerpasch – the verymastermind of the Capri’s recent victory – it prepared five factorycars for a full-out, multi-championship assault. Expectations were,according to a period Road & Track article, for ‘a few victories butnot the 1973 ETCC championship’, – keine chance. The multicolourdecaled beasts stormed to the title, with a Group 2 win at theLe Mans 24-hour and 11th overall, with Toine Hezemans andDieter Quester at the wheel, thrown in for good measure.Still basking in that reflectied glory is this stunning Verona Red3.0 CS ‘Lightweight’ road car (currently on sale at East Sussexbasedspecialist Munich Legends). The aesthetically wilder and rarer‘Batmobile’, with its many aerodynamic accoutrements, mayrepresent the pinnacle of the road-going versions but by comparisonthis is a discreet study in focused presence.It has unstressed alloy panels including the bonnet, boot anddoorskins but unlike German versions – down from the CSi’s1400kg to 1270kg – all UK cars were returned to CS luxuryspecification, which means it doesn’t feature its European sibling’splexiglass side windows, stripped interior or lack of front bumperand comes in a smidgeon heavier.The engine has the tiniest of overbores to 3003cc in order tosneak into the over 3-litre competition bracket – the same trick theCapri RS3100 would later use – but output remains a CSi-level200bhp. Bilstein dampers, a limited-slip differential, power steeringand an all-synchro gearbox complete the high level of specification.Inside, trademark period BMW goldfish-bowl visibilityinstantly connects you to your surroundings. The Fifties-style oversizedsteering wheel is a little thin for my liking – although it suitsthe large cabin – but the Scheel bucket seat makes me feel as if I amsat too far back.The straight-six sparks up with minimal drama and powersteering makes manoeuvring a doddle. Bury the throttle and thebonnet lifts with an accompanying vociferous bark, as the enginespins swiftly and smoothly to the 6400rpm redline.Gearshifts through the sharp gate are dispatched with ease, andthe anchors match the overall high level of efficiency. One thing’sinstantly clear – this car occupies a loftier engineering plane than theother machines gathered here.Push on even harder on the smooth Brands Hatch tarmac, enter acorner at a high speed and it nails the apex ruthlessly; there’s no hint50