RM Sotheby’s will hold a new sale in Munich later this month, November 25-26. Fittingly for a sale taking place in Germany, there will be plenty of German cars and we’ve got ten that we’re going to highlight here.
The Z8 was an instant classic the moment it debuted. Inspired by the BMW 507 Roadster, the Z8 featured retro styling before retro was the look everyone wanted. Unlike many other cars from the same time period the Z8 has withstood the test of time. This example presents in the classic Titanium Silver and includes a matching hardtop. An early production example, it has been sitting in a museum in recent years so it may need some upkeep before getting back on the road, but a Z8 with less than 100 miles since new is tough to find so the right buyer may be able to add an unparalleled car to their collection.
Perhaps the better known M car from the E24 series is the M635 CSi, but BMW also produced the M6. While the former was powered by an engine derived from the one under the hood of the fabled M1, the M6 featured a somewhat less powerful engine and was delivered to both Japan and the US. The example on offer features a six-speed manual transmission with heated seats and an electric sunroof. The odometer, in metric as this car was originally destined for Japan, shows around 6,356 km since new and presents an opportunity to buy an example of one of the cars that helped build BMW’s performance image during the 1980s.
The CSL edition of the E46 M3 is the purest, most performance-focused version of that generation’s 3-series lineup. BMW cut the weight of the car, compared to the regular M3, by 110 kg and pushed forward the usage of carbon fiber in modern production sports cars. Even the glass in the car was a thinner gauge, resulting in more weight savings. Only 1,383 examples of the M3 CSL were produced and the one on offer by RM Sotheby’s show fairly limited use – the odometer read 4,968 km when the car was consigned. This includes the six-speed automated manual transmission, a rare option, which should attract the most diehard BMW fanatics.
It wouldn’t be a complete list of BMWs without a 507. RM Sotheby’s estimates this car, being offered with no reserve, will sell in the €1,600,000 – €2,000,000 range. That’s not an unreasonable number for such an important piece of BMW’s history, especially considering only 252 examples of the 507 Roadster were built. This is a matching-numbers example and has been verified authentic by BMW. Originally delivered in Rome, this example is a Series II which offers greater luggage and cabin area. Photos of the car during its restoration, which took place prior to 2013, were published in a book by Michael Kliebenstein in 2020.
The Z1 was only built from 1989 through 1991 with production limited to about 8,000 examples. That limited availability certainly helped it become a desirable model right from the start. The Z1 helped pave the way for later models such as the Z3 and Z8. This example presents in a rare combination of Urgrün exterior with light tan leather inside. One of the most significant elements of the Z1’s design are the vertically sliding doors. The example offered by RM Sotheby’s is another low-mileage car, showing only 61 km since new and we expect it to be the subject of some heated bidding considering the rarity of the color as well as the extremely low mileage.
Derived from the 2800 CS, the followup to the enjoyable 2000 CS, the 3.0 CSi and its stablemate the 3.0 CS were produced starting in 1971. The CSi was powered by a 3.0L straight-six and could be obtained with a three-speed automatic or a four-speed manual, the latter of which is equipped in this car. Compared to many other examples of the 3.0 CSi, this one shows limited use with fewer than 25,000 km on its odometer. Having been on display in a museum exhibition it will require some inspection and possibly maintenance before being roadworthy again, but for the right collector that’s a small price to pay for a classic 3.0 CSi.
The M1 is as iconic a car as BMW ever produced and was also the first to be developed the BMW’s M Division. BMW sought some assistance from Lamborghini in designing the M1, having no experience building a mid-engined supercar at the time. Gian Paolo Dallara, a key force behind the development of the Miura, created a tubular steel space-frame chassis for the M1 prior to BMW moving design entirely in-house in 1978. BMW built 56 examples of the M1 intended for use on the track, with the remaining 399 examples built for use on the roads to homologate the car for competition usage. This particular example was originally owned by Jochen Neerpasch, the then-head of BMW Motorsport and is one of only four that left the factory with Grey paint. Although it is in need of a mechanical inspection due to sitting on display in a museum for several years, this is certainly a significant example of BMW’s most significant car.
BMW produced the 3.0 CSL for use in racing, first introduced in 1972. The following year saw the engine increased to 3.2L and the addition of the aerodynamic package that earned the nickname “Batmobile.” The initial run of the 3.0 CSL “Batmobile” consisted of 110 cars, later followed by a small run of 57 that were built between 1974 and October 1975. This particular car is the last of the 57 that constitute the second series of the 3.0 CSL “Batmobile.” Although it is believed to have a replacement engine, this should still draw quite a bit of attention when it hits the block in Munich.
Being offered without reserve, this 1989 BMW M3 is finished in Alpine White with an Anthracite cloth interior. Many enthusiasts believe the E30 M3 to be the most balanced and best-handling M3 ever produced and this example has covered only 7,133 km since new. Originally delivered in Japan, this car is equipped with air conditioning and appears to be in excellent cosmetic condition. Mechanically it will require a thorough inspection but for the right collector with the right amount of time on their hands, this may prove to be an excellent entry point to the world of the E30 M3.
This is actually a pre-production prototype version of the 850 CSi and is a unique example being the only now known to be finished in a color known as Drake Brown Metallic with a beige and black leather interior. BMW’s S70 V12 can run the car from 0 to 60 mph in under six seconds, delivering its power through its six-speed manual transmission. Showing just 8,643 km since new it may well be the lowest mileage 850 CSi on the market. Considering the low mileage, unique color combination, and prototype status we expect to see some heated bidding for this car, which is being offered with no reserve by RM Sotheby’s in Munich.