BaT Auction Success Story: 3.0CSi is a Monterey Memento You Should Know
BaT member Jekyll and his son wrapped up this year’s Monterey Car Week after winning a Euro-spec 1972 BMW 3.0CSi listed by BaT seller/Local Partner Mohr Imports as part of their Car Week Collection, Postcards from Monterey. He wrote in to tell us about it:
I never expected to bring a car home from Monterey. My 19-year-old son had asked whether we could attend this year’s Monterey Car Week. He recently graduated from high school, and we had spent a lot of the summer restoring and upgrading my 1962 MGA, including an engine rebuild and a five-speed conversion. His original hope had been that we would complete that project in time to drive the car down to Monterey, but alas, anyone who has been involved in a restoration will know that timelines are fluid and rarely adhere to any set deadline.
So we decided to fly down to Monterey to enjoy a week filled with beautiful classics and today’s supercars. However, the conversations in the weeks leading up to our trip often centered around one question: “If you had a million dollars to spend on one or more cars, what would you choose?” He tended toward more modern cars, with a concession to a classic BMW 507 if that $1 million budget were to double. Instead, I suggested that I would purchase a few iconic vehicles that weren’t so expensive. I’ve always been partial to the early BMW 6-series, and he suggested that its inspiration—the early 1970s E9, including the Batmobile—would be an interesting option. A few quick clicks on BaT later, and we were shown some beautiful examples, including…what’s this?…one for sale in Monterey during Car Week! A visit to see this example in person was immediately put on the list.
The car didn’t disappoint in person. It was beautiful. The combination of Polaris silver over a red leather interior was breathtaking. However, my biggest concern was whether or not this was a vehicle that needed thousands of dollars worth of service in addition to its final bid. Luckily, the local E9 community was there to help. I went to the Legends of the Autobahn event, and through the generosity of other E9 owners there—including some of the most well-known in the California community—I was reassured that this example was in reasonable condition and that most of the upkeep would be within my capability and budget. The stage was set—let the bidding begin. The auction was slated to close during our day at Laguna Seca, and there was something appropriate about placing my bids amidst the roar of race cars descending the infamous Corkscrew.
My son and I decided on our max bid amount, and as it reached that point, I placed my final bid. “Dad, hand me the phone. We’re done. I’ll let you know if you won or not,” he said. Wise boy. One minute became two minutes and then three. “It’s been past the two-minute time window, so I guess the other guy outbid us,” I lamented. He smiled and said, “The car’s yours.”
That is one heck of a Car Week souvenir! Thanks for writing, and congratulations once again, Jekyll.
If you have a Success Story about a car you’ve bought or sold on BaT, please send a few lines and pictures (or a video) to community.content@bringatrailer.com, and we’ll send you a $50 credit to the BaT Gear Store when your story posts to the site.
We love to hear from satisfied BaT buyers and sellers, and a Success Story feature is a great addition to any car’s history when you’re ready to sell.
