The value of the coupe

After visiting my coupe at Rob Torre's shop on Wednesday, I know I got a steal of a deal. (Rob's done all the work on my 02, so I trust his advice.)

Rob put her up on his lift for us to look at her underside and aside from a few little things, there was nothing she needs.

- Transmission - was rebuilt
- Engine - was rebuilt
- everything else under the hood was good to go
- exhaust system - some back yard hack job that will have to go. but it's functional now.

After my tour of underneath, he showed me the KYBs he had already removed. I told him he could have them, shoot them, or do whatever he wanted with them. I had a set of NOS Bilstiens put in. I drove her around the block and it sounded like the tool kit was rattlin' as opposed to the rear suspension.

Coupes are out there, gents. This one was found on Craig's List (by Gordon aka G-Man). They are indeed undervalued. But if someone wants to pay big bucks for a former race car, with documented history, let 'em go. It's their money.
 
The nice Turkis CSL at the Essen show is owned by a German lawyer, whose hobby is to restore one car a year, drive it, then sell it when the next one is done. According to his buddy with the Germany coupe club, his car will be for sale sometime next year for between Euro 70-80k ($95-105k - assuming prices stay flat!)

I am the proud new owner of the Inka in Essen. Some of you guys already have or will call me a sucker for the price, but I have thick skin and take no offense. I'm sure many others understand the obsession of finding the right car and losing all sense of restraint even though you know better (there should be a support group!) For me, its definitely the color. I've been looking for the right numbers-matched Inka 2275 for more than six years, watching their values skyrocket roughly along the same slope as its contemporary, the Porsche 2.7 RS. For the record, I am completely sane :), have owned and maintained four coupes in the past, and checked out dozens of CSLs (including three other Inkas) before settling on this one. I'm sure there are many nicer ones out there, but this is the right one here, now, so the price was secondary.

I've been following the car's restoration for the last five months by the French seller (and btw its not done yet). It was originally Inka, then was painted Chamonix with M-stripes and a bat kit before being taken back to orange. Mechanicals are completely rebuilt, and the body is rust free. It participated in classic european rallys including the Tour Auto, which explains the trip meter, steering wheel and a few other mods.

There are several items missing or wrong that I will replace, and I am certain to look for the Group's help and advice for the usual stuff (anyone know a source or alternative for Scheel headrests?) I'll head to France later this month to check the remaining details, track-test it and sort out any faults before taking it back to Frankfurt. It will certainly experience the Nurburgring by June, and then for some euro rallys, maybe even the Tour Auto again if I can get an invite.

The guy I bought it from is a RS specialist, but has dealt in CSLs before and currently has two others available. Both are ex-racers, the excellent Team Luigi series one bat in Polaris is offered at over $200k. I will take a test drive in it when I am back at the shop - I hear its wicked fast.

One of these days, I'll move back home to Santa Monica and look forward to joining some So. Cal. Group events. Until then, I look forward to many happy and informative discussions here.
 
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I am new here and this thread caught my attention. I would like to share a couple of things more regarding coupe values.
I just want to report factual elements.

Last week, I visited the highly interesting Techno Classica Classic car exhibition. This event, which takes place every year in Essen
- Germany- probably is the most significant European vintage car exhibition.

A BMW 30 CSL lightweight (inka orange and not really 100% original anymore) was offered for sale by a Classic Car dealer.
The car sold during the second day of the exhibition. It changed hands for 85k euros (around 112k USD).

[Broken External Image]:http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/9021/img2135wq0.jpg
Click to expand...

So, do you mind enlightening us as to how you were able to determine the price the car sold for when the company that sold the car won't reveal the swelling price and someone else who attended the same show was unable to ascertain the selling price for this car?

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://bmwbilder.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!20CC4AD961228D11!977.entry&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=10&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3D2007%2BTechno%2BClassica%2BEssen%2BGermany%2BCSL%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26sa%3DG
http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/fin...d=10208&lcarid=1727067&action=advanced_search
 
Dear Tyler,

First of all congrats for your excellent purchase. Regarding CSL values, forget all what you see and hear. Only very few people do really know what they are speaking about. One can always buy cheaper but the price you paid for the car is OK. If you want, I will tell you about people that did really pay high prices for a CSL If nobody talks about this kind of transactions it is simply because such transactions take place between people who do not want to be under the spot lights. Forget about the so-called “specialized-books” and other price and value references people have been talking about in this thread.

Such pseudo vintage car houses, value books and model specialists do not have a clue what they are speaking about when talking about the CSL.
CSL prices ranging between euros 80k – 100k are nothing special anymore. Have you seen the orange Porsche RS 2.7 at 195k euros in Essen? Several RS Porsches were for sale between euro 150k – 200k.

But the price discussion is not really what I wanted to start as things are very clear to me. I wanted to talk about your CSL… (We are talking about +2275 313+ aren't we?) I can only approve the colour choice, it is a very nice colour (this however, I would never have said some years ago ! ). May I introduce myself, I am the French person who also was in Essen and somebody referred to in this thread. I am a genuine CSL enthusiast too and I also own such a fantastic car in Inka Orange. I think I will give you some interesting elements regarding your CSL.

This car was featured in a Jean Giraud 1974 French movie (I have a copy of... you will get it as well... do not panic… I first will have to find it !!!) called Les murs ont des oreilles (Walls have hears). I think the CSL must have been the private car of one of the movie Directors. Anyway, there are good 5 seconds (which is really a lot !) were the CSL can bee seen slowly arriving at a very nice country home. The car stops and both people inside – driver and passenger - open the doors and walk away…

If I am not mistaken, this car also is the only Inka Orange CSL to have been delivered in France with this colour (This, I will confirm it to you later).

Let us please get in touch (I am often in Germany) as I really would like to meet you and discuss various CSL things with you (e.g. your car). Do you know the Oldtimer Grand-Prix Event at the Nuerburgring (this year August 10, 11 and 12) ??? Would be a very good opportunity to meet… Please contact me with a private message, let’s exchange our eMail address and let’s keep in touch,

Yannick.
 
tyler,

let me echo Yannik's comments. When you deal with volumes in the hundreds, not tens of thousands, the printed guides are useless. Add to that the fact that so many CSL's were modified, many were lost/destroyed and many are in garages, it becomes even more difficult to assess true "market value". There is one real way though, and that's to see what people actually paid.

Congratulations on the acquisition- she's very nice. I only hope you do actually move back to Santa Monica so that I can view her in person. Until then, more pictures please.

Good luck with the search for headrests. I'd guess there a at least a couple of sources. They might show themselves if you provide your email address so they can contact you off-board.
 
I found when fighting the insurance companies on an a couple if cars that the
data may be biased down, possibly by transactions that are reported below their actual
value to reduce the sales tax bite.
 
Color Matters

Congratulations! Beautiful car and color with an interesting history besides.

I'm happy you acquired what you were searching for and, as anyone knows who's been looking recently, the bargains that people say exist or what you should pay are not very accurate.

Good luck and enjoy the ring.

John Raho - Westport, Connecticut
 
Thanks guys. I appreciate all the helpful leads. I'll post some pics once I pick the car up.

Tyler
 
I visited the highly interesting Techno Classica Classic car exhibition.
A BMW 30 CSL lightweight (inka orange and not really 100% original anymore) was offered for sale by a Classic Car dealer.
The car sold during the second day of the exhibition. It changed hands for 85k euros (around 112k USD).

[Broken External Image]:http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/9021/img2135wq0.jpg
Click to expand...

Not so. In this month's Roundel they have this show and this exact car on page 56. This car was sold for 60K euros (around $82K USD).
 
Welcome Tyler & Congrats on a lovely car!

Nice interior! I am very curious about the Halda Trip Masters (Rally timing guages) and how they are mounted. I would very much appreciate a close-up pic if you get the chance. Not sure what the 'pole across the dash' does, suspend the gauges? Do the Tripmasters still work accurately?

I'm on the tail end of completing a vintage rally/track car (early Alpina CS clone) and have been investigating the Halda rally gauges. They look much nicer than my GPS floating around the dash area... :wink:

rally on,
-shanon
'70 2800cs (an Alpina clone resto-mod)
 
Hi Shannon -

The Tripmaster is mounted very firmly - there is a custom bracket that is made for the gauges that bolts through the top of the dash, although the holes are quite small and just behind the front dash pad so they are hardly noticable.

The set includes the main tripmeter, consisting of two very accurate odometers that each count by 10 meters and can be reset separately. It clicks when activated so the driver/navigator can count off the distance without looking at the gauge. There is a small light that illuminates the gauge.

There is also an analog average speed calculator and a large digital split function stopwatch. Alot of classic rally guys use analog split stopwatches, which look alot nicer, but probably have less functionality.

On top is a large bendable rally map light, which lays flat and clips in when not being used.

All in all its a very clean setup. I have removed most of it for day-to-day driving, but its very easy to reinstall. The wired-in parts tuck away nicely into the glove box.

I'll take a pic for you when I'm back from holiday.

Regards,
 
Hmmm... My E9 is simply priceless and it is only a fair example. This is like trying to put a value on your favorite dog (I was going to favorite wife but decided better of it). I would (and do) spend thousands on vet bills but no one would give me a plug nickel for her. And, if for some reason I had to get rid of her I would insist on a good home.
 
e9 values

Wow - interesting old thread from a few years ago - first few pages anyway before it lost the plot.

Seems prices have risen a lot in the last 4 years....
and keep rising!

I finally found a good restored - not top condition CSi - for 17 k - US$26k.

Four years ago, I'm sure I could have got a good CSi for half that. Good CSL asking prices are going 50 k plus and top spec ones over 100k

I think its more likely rarity and time passing than age group/generation etc.. I'm sure a young 20/30 something BMW enthusiast today would want a sexy E9 the same as old farts who remember them on the roads brand new as a kid.

I never saw one until I was 22 - now am 42 - was love at first site - I was gobsmacked that BMW ever made such a stunning looking car. The 2002 and 6 series were the only old Beemers I knew!
 
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