1974 BMW 3.0CS

- Numbers Matching 3.0L Inline 6-Cylinder
- 4-Manual Transmission
- 27k Original Kilometers (16k Miles)
- Restored in Factory Inka (Orange) Paint
- BMW Certificate of Authenticity

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1974 BMW 3.0CS on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of this vehicle due to website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 240 photographs and a startup/walk-around video, please go to our main website: GarageKeptMotors.)

“The definition of grace.” –Gabriel Nica, BMW Blog dot com

The BMW Blog site backed up their accolade for the BMW 3.0CS model by noting the car's interior and exterior distinctiveness. Inside the car: “The dash is the main attraction… hosting four analogue gauges wrapped in wood right behind the big, airbag-less steering wheel.” They went on: “The seats feel as if you're sitting on a couch in your living room. The back seats look even more enticing, with their stitching and bucket shapes,” and “The windows are huge, offering you an open-air feeling and impeccable visibility in every direction. This is where one of the key design features of the E9 comes into play. Since this was a true coupe back in the day, it didn't have a B-pillar. The effect that has on the onlookers, especially if you roll down all the windows, is just fabulous.”

Internet automotive site, Jalopnik, in a 2015 Raphael Orlove retrospective review of the 3.0CS cars put it this way: “These E9s are just about perfectly proportioned, with just enough charming little details to be interesting but not too many to be overdone. They have a good name, and they have a good pedigree, racing successfully in FIA endurance racing in Europe through the '70s. The first BMW art car was a 3.0CSL painted up by Alexander Calder for one of his gentleman racing buddies at Le Mans '75. Hard to get a better history than that. So why would you buy a car that isn't a BMW E9 coupe? What possible justification could you have?

On the E9's racing pedigree—which directly gave rise to “The Ultimate Driving Machine” advertising—another respected internet site, “Ate Up With Motor,” chronicled: “(The racing version of the CS) suddenly became a fearsome contender. It won its class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1973 and went on to dominate European racing until 1979…. It won a total of five European Touring Car championships and was highly successful in various U.S. events as well, seriously challenging Porsche's previously unassailable IMSA domination.“

BMW E9s, like the 3.0CS offered here, are very special cars indeed. But this beautiful Inka-over-black example is more special than most. First, Inka is arguably the most desirable classic BMW color, and it is the color this 3.0CS was born with (and faithfully re-applied during restoration). Second, a BMW Classic Zertifikat included in the sale documents the car's origin, original equipment, complete specifications, and overall authenticity (with other German documentation also included). Third, and most amazing of all, according to its chassis number (432001), this is the very first of only 860 3.0CS(A) cars produced for model years 1973 through 1975 (out of a total run of 3,667 over the model's five years of production according to the “E-9 Driven Worldwide Registry).” Finally, the car was beautifully restored inside and out with a 4-speed manual transmission professionally installed to replace the automatic (with full documentation included).

This 3.0CS really is a feast for the eyes. The Inka orange paint was professionally applied, and the finish is virtually perfect across every surface, including under the hood. Euro bumpers were added front and rear. The condition of all chrome trim—including the iconic fender vents—is superb. Glass, lighting lenses, and mirrors are free of imperfections, as are the BMW roundel emblems. Alpine-style wheels with proper Alpine center caps are mounted with Vredestein Sport Classic 14-inch tires.

The interior is a true work of automotive art. The four large gauges face the driver on a wood trimmed dash, the wood continuing on the doors, cabin walls, and the console. A 3-spoke, chrome Nardi® sport steering wheel is a desirable addition and a BMW-branded, wood shift knob tops the shift lever. Re-covered black leather upholstery (and cabin trim) is free of damage or serious indications of wear. Black carpeting shows only some light fading in places, including on the rear package shelf. The original BMW-branded cassette radio remains mounted. Coco mats are in place on the cabin floors.

Under the front-hinged hood, the car is powered by a BMW M30 inline 6-cylinder engine married to the aforementioned 4-speed manual transmission. All correct data plates and decals are properly in place. Unlike too many cars of this era that must be trailered to cars-and-coffee or concours events, this 3.0CS will definitely be driven. It will also be driven home… and then driven some more. Viewed from below, the car's chassis is clean and undamaged.

As the more than 240 photographs available at GarageKeptMotors site demonstrate, this is an exceptional BMW in stellar condition. The photos alone are a delight, sure to captivate any automobile enthusiast whether a “BMW guy” or not. For the interested buyer, the high-definition still photography permits inspection of the level of detail and superb quality of the finishes exhibited, and the accompanying video gives an audible sample of the car's exhaust note. (We encourage in-person inspection of the car at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom by appointment only.)

Performance? Reliability? Classic good looks? A rare, legendary model prized by collectors? A color that will have BMW fans transfixed? Why choose one or two when you can have it all?