PNW CSL lightweight: $169K

Markos

Markos

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You may find it hard to believe, but this is NOT mine. :)

I haven't seen this listed locally, but I don't surf Hemmings. My only visible complaint is at $170K, they could have spent a grand on new csl fabric in the Scheels.

http://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C537805


This early-production Series 1 CSL is the 29th produced of a total of only 169 cars made with factory carburetion before the switch to fuel injection.
- It was completed in ultimate competition form with optional lightweight Vertex Plexiglas windows. As verified in the original BMW Certificate accompanying the car, it was manufactured on December 1, 1971 and delivered new to BMW Italia S.p.A., in Palazzo, Verona, Italy on September 7, 1972.
- While its earliest Italian owner history is unknown, the car was apparently raced in Italy for a number of years early on. In or around 1974, its original 2,985cc engine was replaced by the more potent, then-current 3.3-liter E3 engine with triple Weber carburetion.
- Its 4-Speed transmission appears to be original to the car. In 1986 it was imported by its second owner, Robert Mandraccia, from Italy to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and then on to Fort Myers, Florida.
- To meet U.S. standards the car was fitted with safety glass and an American-spec steel front bumper. It was then repainted from its original Colorado Orange to Polaris Silver Metallic with tri-tone M stripes. An active member of the CSL club network, Mr. Mandraccia kept extensive records of his ownership, all of which are included in the documentation.
- In 1998 Ormond Beach, Florida, resident James Arocho took ownership of the car, which by that time was known as a Prototype due to its many early production details. He used it sparingly over the course of his ownership, but nonetheless was highly impressed by the power and agility it displayed during rare track sessions.
- The car then made its way into the Craig Brody Collection, where it was completely dismantled and stripped to bare metal for a ground-up restoration. It was refinished in its original code 2 Colorado Orange with Black CSL stripes and chrome fender trim, and refitted with the original Green-tinted Vertex Plexiglas windows for maximum authenticity. Its mechanical restoration included a new custom-built factory-style exhaust system to extract full power from the 3.3L inline-6 cylinder engine.
- In addition to its excellent original velour competition seats, the interior retains its original wood trim, steering wheel and carpeting, as well as the unique rear passenger compartment fresh air ducting exclusive to early-production models.
- The car was completed with restored original 14x7-inch wheels and Michelin XWX radial tires to complete its return to stock factory Lightweight specification.

Inspections are welcome...please emails us for more pics and details...

..........
craiger
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That looks like the car that was in Florida given that the photos are clearly not from the PNW. IIRC, it doesn't have the original engine. I think it's a 3.2.
 
Carb car

The last I heard the car was still in Florida and this ABC is just a broker based in the NW, who looks for cars for sale and then re-advertises as though they are his own.

Sadly the internet now allows this kind of activity to flourish
 
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The phone number listed in the listing is a 503 (PDX) number, so I'm assuming that's where the assumption comes from.
 
Fraud - Bogus ad

This car was discussed in length last year, and yes Craig Brody finally sold the car a while ago.

The ad appears to be bogus. Google the phone number and you'll find some interesting (or not) stuff to read.
 
I personally inspected this car in Florida. Extremely dry and rust free car with all the aluminum panels in place. No bodywork at all other than filling in the bumper holes that were put in by the previous owner. Plexi windows are there. There are just minor corrections that need to be made. I know the new owner will be installing a documented alpina B2-s motor in the car alpina headers correct first series alpina steering wheel and alpina magnesium race wheels. He is also hunting down the original block. It went to the right guy who will take this car to the next level. Quite amazing how dry and rust free this car is!!
 
Danny, What about the claims that this is somehow a prototype, it has some unique cooling vents from trunk if I remember correctly?

Chris
 
Maybe the first owner wanted that cooling to the back seat, who knows. It's a simple plastic pipe run under the carpet and sticks up in the back seat between the two seats. Easily removed but it's definitely been there for a long time. There's also stereo speakers so someone I assume wanted to add a bit of comfort regardless of what these cars were designed for. There was quite a bit of documentation on the car including pictures when it arrived to the U.S. As well as a pretty detailed letter from Yannick from what I guess was around 1989 and the certificate from BMW confirming its authenticity. It was silver with a front bumper and bat stickers. Craig Brody stripped the car to bare metal and did a nice job of painting it but he was a bit stubborn on the details as he really doesn't understand the significance between his town kit csl and this lightweight. He even left the bumper holes in the front when he stripped and repainted the car thinking they were supposed to remain. Plastic alpina wheel caps, wrong steering wheel wrong decal on trunk lid magnaflow muffler and run through a muscle car auction. All wrong....
 
Curious...small world?

I have a magazine test article from back in the day that shows a very early Colorado CSL (protoype?)being reviewed along with the striped Broadspeed CSL racer.

Not sure where my article is offhand, but old foto copy on batcave wall shows a similar car with white oval plates : 662-Z-xxxx

Could it be same car?...
 
Dr Bob Mandraccia

He was the one who owned the car in the late 80s and early 90s. He is a plastic surgeon in Ft Myers, near me. I do not know him personally, but have met some of his staff.
He might be able to provide even more detail on the car's history. I think he is the one who imported it.
Glad to hear the buyer is going to spend some money on it to make it right.
Scott
 
eastsideM3 said:
He even left the bumper holes in the front when he stripped and repainted the car thinking they were supposed to remain.
Click to expand...

I'm curious about this line... I believe there are original brochures and period test articles showing the bumper holes on the first carb'd cars? Wouldn't these holes have been part of the original stampings?
 
You are correct the original brochure does show the bumper holes, but look closely and you will also see some other incorrect things on the car. The car in that photo was a car that was not approved yet by BMW for production but as Alpina wanted it. It also had 3 piece Alpina wheels and some more noticeable ALPINA logos that were blocked out as BMW didnt want to be overshadowed by Alpina. The car that was finally released did not have the bumper holes. To me these first 169 cars were the closest thing to what Alpina would have done had they had free range with the CSL. BMW slowly made it more road and comfort friendly by adding all the extra stuff.
 
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