BMW 3.0CS Coupe

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Launched in 1968, the BMW E9 Coupe was one of the most handsome cars ever to roll from the Munich factory.

Sleek and shark-like, it had a wonderfully elegant and airy cockpit with slim windscreen pillars, a large glass area and a beautifully 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. The CS could sprint to 60mph in just 8 seconds with a top speed of 131mph (compared to 7.5 seconds and 139mph for the fuel-injected CSi).

The E9 platform, particularly the 3.0CSL lightweight homologation special, 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 sporty driver's car. Only 30,546 E9 Coupes were built in total before production came to an end in 1975 (including just 4,455 CS carburettor models) and only a small proportion were in right-hand drive making them a rare sight on UK roads today.

First registered in August 1971, this 3.0CS looks stunning in Baikal Blue with a dark blue velour interior. At the time of cataloguing the history file for the car could not readily be located but it is showing only some 42,500 miles on the clock which, given the overall condition of the car, could well be genuine. It appears highly original and unrestored (even retaining its complete, original tool tray) and has spent the last few years in a Carcoon as part of a private collection.

As the catalogue went to press the car was being recommissioned for sale and is said to be running nicely after the fitment of a new fuel pump. We are also told that it had a new clutch kit fitted in 2009. Currently on southern Irish plates with an Irish log book issued in Dublin, it is due to be UK registered in time for the sale with a V5C and a new MOT. It also comes with a Brooklands book about the E9 range.

These handsome Coupes are becoming extremely rare now with only 41 CS models still UK registered, according to DVLA figures (compared to 92 of the lightweight CSL models and 77 of the fuel-injected CSi models). Values have soared in recent times and you will be hard pressed to find a better, more original example than this. It looks excellent value at the sensible guide price suggested and is sure to attract lots of admiring glances wherever it goes. We like it a lot and it would look even better with a nice set of optional BBS alloys…