Description:

1973 BMW 3.5 CSL Race Car – Chassis 2210270

A rare opportunity to acquire an important and highly eligible works-era specification BMW 3.5 CSL — one of the most iconic touring cars of the 1970s and a cornerstone of BMW Motorsport history. This car has continous race history from 1972 onwards via 2800CS race car then a Group 2 and Group 5 IMSA. It hase been meticulously restored to its Group 2 specification but comes with the Group 5 BMW bodywork as well in a flight case as it ran in IMSA

Built in 1972 — Initially prepared as a BMW 2800 CS race car by FALTZ/Alpina in Essen, German

Chassis number 2210270 is an extensively documented historic racing car with continuous provenance in the DRM, ETCC, and IMSA series. It began its life in 1972 as a 2800 CS, and was later upgraded to full Group 2 and Group 5 CSL racing specifications and is presented as an authentic period competition CSL with documented historic provenance in its group 2 livery and 12 valve specification and significant period race pedigree.

Highlights

• Genuine period BMW competition chassis built by Faltz/Alpina (Germany)
• Chassis number: 2210270
• Significant historic racing provenance and sucess
• Eligible for all the premier historic motorsport events and concours
• Full FIA HTP papers until 2029
• Correct period competition specification
• Iconic “Batmobile” era BMW Motorsport platform
• Highly collectible blue-chip historic race car

The car offers eligibility for many of the world’s leading historic racing events, including premier historic touring car series and prestigious international motorsport festivals. A guaranteed entry at all the big European and US events including Le Mans Classic, Peter Auto, Tour Auto, Motor Racing Legends as well as concours events

An exceptional acquisition opportunity for collectors, historic racers, museums or investment-grade automotive portfolios. Most of the information on this car can be gleeded by a simple chat gpt search. We have an extensive history file with the car including orginal stickers and programmes. The car comes with two sets of wheels gold and silver BBS race style. The engine has less than two hours since being fully rebuilt 

Detailed

Origins (1972)

Chassis 2210270 started life in 1972 as a 2800 CS race car, built by the garage FALTZ, an ALPINA authorized dealer and prominent private BMW team in Essen, Germany.  The car campaigned in the 1972 Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft (DRM) Championship under Hans-Peter Joisten, who took ninth place in the overall standings that year. 

Upgrade to 3.5 CSL “Batmobile” (1973)

In June 1973 the car was sold to Graziano Cancian and upgraded to 3.5 CSL specification, notably using the latest Schnitzer engine available at the time. All the work was overseen by Manfred Nicht, Benedens’ team chief.  The car was raced in a number of DRM and ETCC events until 1976, at historic tracks such as Wunstorf, Zolder, and the Nürburgring. 

USA / IMSA Era (1979–1985)

In 1979, Cancian sold the car to Peter Herke in California, who upgraded it to Group 5 specification to run in the IMSA Series. Herke modified the car extensively, giving it a body similar to those used by the Vasek Polak team in the 1970s, and continued running it until 1985. 

Storage & 20th Anniversary (1985–2007)

1985 saw the car put into storage, where it remained until 1992, when — repainted in BMW Motorsport colours — it participated in the 20th anniversary of BMW Motorsport at Sebring. Herke would occasionally run it at historic meets after that event before eventually selling it in 2007. 

Restoration & Recent Ownership

In 2007 the car went to James Hanson, who restored it back to the original Group 2 specification of its ETCC days with Graziano Cancian. Hanson kept it a few years before selling it to Richard Meins, who ran it in Masters Historics before selling it to Gregor Fiskens. 

The car was meticulously restored back to its original Group 2 specification, including a rebuild of its 3.5L engine with Kugelfischer fuel injection.

Summary of Known Owners/Drivers

    •    1972: Rüdiger Faltz / Hans-Peter Joisten (FALTZ team, DRM)
    •    1973–1976: Graziano Cancian (DRM & ETCC, Josef Benedens Tuning)
    •    1979–1985: Peter Herke (IMSA, Group 5, California)
    •    2007: James Hanson (restored to Group 2)
    •    Subsequently: Richard Meins → Gregor Fiskens → further collector owners

A well-documented and raced example with FIA papers. As of early 2025, it was listed for sale once more, restored to its original 1973 Group 2 livery.

Serious enquiries invited.
Further information, history file, photographs and provenance documentation available upon request.

Worldwide shipping and inspection arrangements can be organised for qualified buyers. The car is with my race team and avilable to view in the UK it is a fully tax paid UK car with a faultless and well known provenance.

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