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By
DAVID PIKE
The CSL was a lightweight version of BMW's flagship six-cylinder
2800/3.0 CS coupes, although the shape harks back to the 1965 2000 CS.
It was built especially to allow the car to meet the requirements needed
for European Touring Car Group 2 racing.
The first CSLs, announced in May 1971, were specially modified
so as to become 217km/h road racers with thinner body panels, no
front bumper, fibreglass rear bumper, racing latches on the
bonnet, manual winding side windows made from plexiglas, and of
course the alloy-skinned opening panels, all in the name of weight
reduction.
BMW even skimped on underbody rust protection and sound
deadening, along with some drastically cheaper interior trim
enabling 181kg to be pared off the coupe. Although top speed
wasn't much affected, acceleration was decisively quicker. To
stiffen suspension Bilstein gas shock absorbers with advanced
progressive-rate springs were added. As a result the CSL had
sure-footed, almost roll-free handling, though oversteer could be
a problem in the wet.
Wheels were fat Alpina 17.8cm alloys with chrome wheel-arch
extensions to keep them legal. Black accent stripes distinguished
the L' - which stood for lightweight - from the standard CS/CSi.
One hundred and sixty-nine were built, all left-hand drive.
Although the CSL was originally fitted with the 2958cc
carburettor version of the in-line six (giving 135kW), a slight
bore increase in August 1972 lifted capacity to 3003cc, allowing
the car to slip into three-litre Group 2 competition. At the same
time Bosch electronic injection replaced the twin Zenith
carburettor and power rose to 150kW, although brochures of the
time quote a carburettor-fed 3003cc engine as well. Five hundred
and thirty-nine were built.
The British specification RHD car was introduced in the UK in
October 1972 and came with the RHD City package' to appease
drivers who wanted the lightweight racer cachet without the
discomfort. Most of the excess weight previously stripped off the
car was put back. British importers took 500 CSLs but prices were
high - more than an Aston or Jensen - and not everybody liked the
awkward to get into Scheel bucket seats, or wanted easily-damaged
alloy panels.
The 3.2-litre CSL was announced in August 1973. It was
left-hand drive only and had a bigger 3153cc, 154kW engine
although it was still badged 3.00-litre. The same lightweight
shell was used, but, to take the weight and downforce of the rear
wing, the bootlid was steel with a fitting for the spoiler. To use
the wing on the track it had to be homologated on a production
car. These also included a deep front spoiler, a roof hoop spoiler
just above the rear window, a small lip spoiler on the edge of the
bootlid and rubber spitters' on the front wings.
Manual steering and Bilstein gas-pressure shock absorbers with
three alternative levels of hardness meant the 3.2-litre CSL
didn't need an anti-roll bar. The last CSLs, built in 1974-75, had
minor differences such us a three-fin rear batwing and a driver's
seat with an adjustable backrest.
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