- The British singer owned the car for four years
- The classic BMW racecar could sell for as much as £180,000
- This stunning BMW has raced in events across Europe, including the Classic Le Mans
Few BMWs are as iconic as the CSL ‘Batmobile’ and a particularly gorgeous 3.0-liter E9 CS converted into one of these rare racers is heading to auction in the UK on May 18.
While the car started as a regular 3.0 CS, it was converted into a race car in the late 1980s by Tim Busby who frequently raced it throughout his ownership. In 2004, it was picked up by the owner of Iconic Auctioneers, Nick Whale, and his best friend Ian Guest. They continued to race it, including at Classic Le Mans in 2004 and 2006. It was even raced at Monza, Silverstone, and Spa.
Watch: The Rarest BMW 3.0 CSL Actually Has A 3.2-Liter Engine
The Batmobile was then sold to Alan Tice who raced it for two or three seasons and in 2013, sold it to Jay Kay, the lead singer of British band Jamiroquai, a well-known motoring enthusiast and collector. Jay Kay kept the car for four years before it was sold at auction and received an overhaul worth six figures. The car was raced up until 2021.
The color scheme immediately makes the car stand out. Most of the body is clad in white, contrasted with blue and green details. Like those 3.0 CSLs that left the factory with a dramatic aero kit, it rocks the pronounced front spoiler and the iconic rear wing.
Interestingly, the car left the factory with a 3.0-liter engine but the capacity of this engine was increased to 3.5 liters to get it ready to go racing. Iconic Auctioneers hasn’t provided details about what modifications were made to the engine, although we have reached out seeking additional information. The auction house expects the car to sell between £160,000 ($200,000) and £180,000 ($225,000).
