BMW 3.0 CSA E9 Coupe

Launched in 1968, the BMW E9 Coupe was one of the most handsome cars ever to roll from the Munich factory. Sleek as a shark, it had a wonderfully elegant and airy cabin with slim windscreen pillars, a large glass area and a tastefully restrained wooden dash. 

Initially powered by a 2.8-litre straight-six, this was replaced by a 3-litre unit in 1971 that produced 180bhp on Solex carbs, later 200bhp with Bosch fuel injection which gave it a top speed of 140mph.

The E9 platform, particularly the 3.0CSL lightweight, was very successful in racing, especially in the European Touring Car Championship and the German DRM series which helped to establish BMW's status as a sporting driver's car.

Only 30,546 E9 Coupes were built in total before production came to an end in 1975, of which only a very small proportion were in right-hand drive making them a rare sight on UK roads today.

One of the last cars to be made, this November 1974 example is a CSA model with the optional ZF automatic gearbox, power steering and an electric sunroof. It was sold new by Murkett Brothers BMW of Huntingdon to Beamglow Ltd of the same town.

It has covered just 71,300 miles from new with many old MOTs back to 1977 to verify this total. The service book records 10 service stamps up to May 1980 and 44,600 miles, all at the supplying dealer. The V5 records six former keepers, the fifth of whom being a lady who owned it from 2005 until early this year.

Bills on file show that much money was spent on the car in 2005 and 2006 to get it in good shape mechanically, including a complete new cooling system, all new brakes, a stainless steel exhaust and a reconditioned gearbox (the latter alone costing £1,100). Since then the car has only covered around 2,000 miles as it was more or less laid up in 2008.

Recently got running again, it still runs and drives with a sweet and healthy engine and a good gearbox but the brakes are spongy and will need attention. When submitted for a recent MOT it failed mainly on the brakes and on corrosion around the front suspension mountings. There are also a couple of places on the outer panels that could do with some attention. However the black velour interior is mainly very smart, the wheels have been refurbished and new tyres fitted.

It comes with all its original handbooks and wallet, the aforementioned old MOTs and bills, a very detailed BMW parts catalogue running to some 200 pages and a BMW parts price list from 2006.

These handsome and sporting E9 Coupes have become increasingly hard to find in recent years as there are not many left and owners tend to hang onto them. Prices have risen accordingly. With many good things in its favour, this largely unmolested example seems like a tempting restoration project at the guide price suggested.