Guide price: ??40000 - ??45000.
- A superb example of the hugely desirable, Karmann-built, 200bhp coupe
- Recently having undergone a thorough restoration by Classic Legends
- Over £20,000 spent on a bare metal respray in the rare period colour of Turkis Blue
- Full mechanical and interior overhaul, retrimmed, wood restored and all electrics operational
- This is one of only 207 right-hand drive cars built during the last two years of production
The post-war renaissance of BMW began in earnest in the 1960s with the introduction of two pivotal models, the compact 02-Series - the forerunner to the huge-selling 3-Series - and a larger, visually striking CS sports coupé, referred to internally as the E9, which evolved to become the 3.0 CSi, the car offered here. With its beautiful lines, purposeful stance and pillarless doors, styled by famed German coachbuilder Karmann, the CS grabbed instant attention. Powered by a superbly engineered straight-six, three-litre engine, this fast, sharp-handling cruiser had the performance to match its looks. BMW now had a new face that would come to define the company's image for the rest of the century.In 1971, the 3.0CS made its debut in the UK, followed swiftly by the introduction of the more powerful 3.0CSi fuel injected version, becoming BMW's first 200bhp plus machine and giving it real on the road punch. In recent years, sale prices of its big brother, the legendary 'CSL' have dramatically risen and, not unnaturally, the CSi is beginning to follow.This particular example is a UK, right-hand drive car and is number 43 of the final batch of 207 RHD cars made between October 1973 and November 1975, although approximately 250 UK-RHD cars were built prior to this. It was purchased by our vendor some years ago and he entrusted Classic Legends of Northampton to completely recommission it with the intention of creating a totally usable 'Classic'.It underwent a bare metal respray with a colour change from White to the stunning Turkish Blue (Turkis Blau) it now wears so well. The vinyl roof was professionally applied, the interior was fully restored and the seats re-trimmed in a period fabric, the wooden dashboard and fascias restored, all switchgear checked and functioning, and naturally the car was completely overhauled mechanically. The final account was a little over £22,000 which seems very reasonable, and with the value of CSLs and CSis on the rise,  this stunning car seems very sensibly guided and may well turn out to be a wise investment.