Before the M1, before the M3, before the letter “M” became synonymous with performance purity, there was chassis E9/R1. Built during the winter of 1972 as BMW Motorsport GmbH’s first-ever development car, this 3.0 CSL prototype is the vehicle that started everything we associate with BMW’s racing lineage. Now, for the first time publicly, U.K.-based Dylan Miles is offering this foundational machine to collectors.
Where It All Started
BMW’s motorsport ambitions emerged after Bob Lutz joined as Sales and Marketing director in January 1972. He immediately pushed for a factory racing team that could compete with Ford’s dominant Cologne Capris. Jochen Neerpasch, a former Porsche works driver, was tapped to lead the newly formed BMW Motorsport GmbH alongside technical ace Martin Braungart from Ford. Their first project was the Chassis E9/R1, constructed as the test bed for what would become the legendary CSL racing program.
Through the frigid winter months of 1972-73, Hans Stuck and Harald Menzel put this car through its paces at Paul Ricard and Hockenheim, fine-tuning everything from suspension geometry to the aerodynamic package that would eventually earn the CSL its “Batmobile” nickname. The car initially raced without the iconic aero kit due to strict FIA homologation rules. But on June 30, 1973 at the DRM Mainz-Finthen race, something remarkable happened: E9/R1 qualified without the Batmobile kit, then at midnight the FIA approved its use. Factory engineers rushed the car to a local BMW dealership and worked through the night installing the new bodywork and upgrading to the 3.5-liter engine. One mechanic literally drove it back to the circuit on public roads just before race start.
Racing Pedigree
As one of only 21 Werks CSL models built — and just 11 actually raced by the factory team — E9/R1 earned its stripes on track. Harald Menzel scored outright victories at the Nurburgring support race during the 1973 German Grand Prix, followed by wins at Kassel-Calden and the ADAC-500 km Eifelpokalrennen at the Nordschleife. After the 1973 season, BMW Motorsport sold E9/R1 to Hurtig Team Libra in the U.S. for the 1974 IMSA championship, where driver John Buffums performed so well that BMW decided to field a works team in IMSA the following year.
Restoration and Recognition
After retiring from competition and passing through several noted BMW collectors, E9/R1 underwent an expert restoration over the past decade with the ultimate focus on preserving originality. The car made its public return at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed in pre-homologation 1973 spec, then appeared at the 2025 Salon Privé Concours d’Elegance at Blenheim Palace wearing full Batmobile specification. There, it received the prestigious “Most Iconic Car” award — a fitting recognition for its historical significance.
Spec Sheet
Model: 1972 BMW 3.0 CSL Werks Development Car
Chassis: E9/R1 (First of 21 Werks CSL models)
Engine: 3.5L M30 inline-six
Power: 400 hp
Configuration: Full Batmobile aerodynamic package
Factory Raced: Yes (one of only 11 factory-raced examples)
Pricing & Availability
Dylan Miles Ltd is offering chassis E9/R1 for the first time publicly, with pricing available upon application. This is the automotive equivalent of owning the Rosetta Stone; a car that spawned six European Touring Car Championship titles, a Nurburgring lap record, Le Mans class wins, and the entire BMW M lineage we celebrate today.
Recap
1972 BMW 3 0 CSL Werks Development Car
Chassis E9/R1 is the first car BMW Motorsport ever built — the 1972 development prototype that became the legendary 3.0 CSL racer and essentially launched the entire M division. Now it’s available publicly for the first time through Dylan Miles, complete with the iconic Batmobile aero kit and a race history that includes multiple DRM victories.
