1977 BMW 3.0 CSL Alpina Gosser Beer tribute car

Sandy Washburn

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Sandy: Please check your mailbox here.
Don - I received the poster today and it is perfect. Thank you - payment is in the mail! My car repair will be done by March and I expect to be back on the track at Lime Rock for a vintage event in June for two full track days with other gear heads who work on their own cars.
 

Sandy Washburn

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There is another Gosser Beer clone.
Right here in Atlanta GA.
Built about 5 years ago by Brenden Digel.
I had a few photos but knew there were more and asked.
Here's link to professional photos by Pat Hart.
It has an S38 B36 motor and drive train.
Not sure of current status.

Th same garage in Atlanta is currently selling a beautiful E9 2800 with flared fenders and a M54 engine on BAT. The orange color is stunning but I
prefer my green color which is historically accurate, as is my M88 engine. It looks like that car will probably sell for well over $100,000 which is crazy
but seems to be the current market for BMW E9 coupes in mint condition (no rust or mechanical issues) even if they are tribute cars and not original
CSLs with or without wings. https://www.motortrend.com/vehicle-genres/bmw-e9-coupe-m3-engine-swap/
 
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Candia4441

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Th same garage in Atlanta is currently selling a beautiful E9 2800 with flared fenders and a M54 engine on BAT. The orange color is stunning but I
prefer my green color which is historically accurate, as is my M88 engine. It looks like that car will probably sell for well over $100,000 which is crazy
but seems to be the current market for BMW E9 coupes in mint condition (no rust or mechanical issues) even if they are tribute cars and not original
CSLs with or without wings. https://www.motortrend.com/vehicle-genres/bmw-e9-coupe-m3-engine-swap/
Hello, 2nd one is coming soon I don't think is going to be as nice as this one but I am trying my best I strip down my E9 and I am having the same M3 S54 engine with 5 speed gear box, limited sleep def. and other thing go along with it but body is original actually I am not touching body since it is in very good shape maybe I do a paint job later for now I renew under the car since all stripped but I tell you it is vey challenging to make it work right I am not posting any picture I am afraid of negative comment after I start up then I will post a picture.
 

Sandy Washburn

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Hello, 2nd one is coming soon I don't think is going to be as nice as this one but I am trying my best I strip down my E9 and I am having the same M3 S54 engine with 5 speed gear box, limited sleep def. and other thing go along with it but body is original actually I am not touching body since it is in very good shape maybe I do a paint job later for now I renew under the car since all stripped but I tell you it is vey challenging to make it work right I am not posting any picture I am afraid of negative comment after I start up then I will post a picture.
I was very fortunate to find my E9 CSL tribute car on BAT several years ago which had zero rust and Group 2 body flared fenders and Bat wings plus
a full SCCA spec roll cage and M88 race prepared engine prepared by a German Mechanic in Vermont. All I needed to do was repaint the car and install a new
custom wire harness and modern engine management system. I believe that the other Gosser Beer CSL tribute car has a M88 engine which installs in the E9 frame without modification and produces over 300 rear wheel hp with 7500 rpm limit. I think that the M88 would be better engine choice for you since it is
period correct. My car also has an E9 limited slip diff with oil cooler and an Accusump system which is needed for racing.
 
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Sandy Washburn

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My son and I took the BMW to a vintage car event at Lime Rock track in Connecticut and both drove the car during the two days. We plan to trailer the car to Road America in Wisconsin in October for a two day BMW Club event. I will also drive the car at Watkins Glen twice this summer. Picture shows the BMW next to my Shelby GT 350 tribute car which I sold to a young Mustang racer so I am able to run with him in the same race group in each event which is ideal.
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Sandy Washburn

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We have just purchased a BMW Getrag 265/5 dog leg close ratio gear box from a gear box specialist in London. This will allow us to have five usable gears instead of the overdrive 265/6 that came with the car. This will make a significant difference at Watkins Glen and Road America which have long straights. We are also eliminating the power assisted brake system in favor of a dual master cylinder system which will provide much better brake control. Combined with the M88 race prepared engine and proper suspension, the car will be perfect for track days on any track.
 

Sandy Washburn

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Is that event open to spectators? If so, Amy and I will come up. Would love to meet you (and see/hear the car) in person.
Stephen
The BMW Octoberfest event is held each year at Road America and should be accessable - just mention my name as crew members
The racing days are October 1-2.
 

Sandy Washburn

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My son Bill entered the BMW in the GRIDLIFE time attack event at Lime Rock which had some of the best time attack and drift cars from all over the country
including several from California and Texas. The CSL was one of the few vintage cars competing and was the oldest car there. The first day Bill recorded a lap time of 1:02.89 which was without pushing the car. During the first session on the second day the car experienced a broken valve spring and bent valve which ended his competition. Although the main attraction was Asian turbo charged time attack cars and some of the top drift cars running the full Lime Rock track for the first time, the Gosser Beer CSL attracted a great deal of attention from most of the crowd, most of whom had never seen a competition prepared CSL before. We plan to return next year for the GRIDLIFE event. October 1-2 we will trailer the car to Road America in Wisconsin for the BMW Octoberfest event.

GRIDLIFE filmed the entire two day event and it is available on Utube. During the Friday first time attack session, my BMW CSL has an eight minute action video beginning at 58 minutes with video from multiple cameras and drones. Famous photographer Larry Chen and his team spent the two days filming many of the cars and doing video interviews with competitors. He did a 30 minute interview with Bill and me where we discussed the CSL and Larry filmed the car from all angles. It will be on his Utube site soon.
 

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Sandy Washburn

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The M88/3 engine in my 3.0 CSL suffered a broken valve spring at GridLife but has since been repaired by VAC Motorsports. My son and I will dyno the engine before heading to Road America in Wisconsin next week for the BMW OctoberFast event. We are both registered which will give each of us eight 20 minute sessions with the car on this 4 mile track. The newly installed dog leg close ratio gearbox should prove beneficial on this challenging track. We will post videos of our track action.
 

Sandy Washburn

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Wow broken valve spring. Did your M88/3 still have the single valve springs?
The engine had double valve springs which were not proper competition springs and were quite old. VAC has installed proper M88/S38
heavy weight springs together with stronger factory valves properly seated with full head machining. We expect the engine to dyno
with at least an increase of 20HP and much greater RPM performance. We kept the Metric Mechanic rally intake cam because it was
in good shape and helps with engine torque. We also replaced the timing chain and all of the tensioner pieces which were worn.
While the engine was apart, my son replaced the main bearings with coated bearings from VAC. He replaced the rod bearings two
years ago with similar bearings. VAC also supplied a special steel head gasket which they use on competition engines. My goal is to
have an M88 engine that will be reliable for at least 40 hours of track time. Together with a new dog leg close ratio transmission and
a rebuilt limited slip differential, I am hoping that we don't experience any more mechanical surprises.
 

Sandy Washburn

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Awesome. Sounds like you’re set for reliability for a while. Thanks for the response!
COVID prevented our participating in the BMW Octoberfast event at Road America but I am ready to return to Watkins Glen
for two days with Hookedondriving. It has been my favorite track for the past 10 years. We will do Road America next Fall
after competing in Gridlife again at Lime Rock and a vintage event also at Lime Rock.
 

Sandy Washburn

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Larry Chen video interview with my son Bill and me at the GRIDLIFE event at Lime Rock last summer

 
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