MOFFAT’S SEBRING WINNER UP FOR GRABS

THE 1975 SEBRING 12-hour winning BMW 3.5 CSL IMSA that Allan Moffat drove with Hans Stuck and Brian Redman is for sale at Stratas online auctions.

Homologated for racing in 1973 this car, one of four built to IMSA GTO spec achieved BMWs first major win on US soil in only their second race.

Based on BMW’s CS Coupe, the purposebuilt CSL commenced production late 1971 and in 1973 sprouted a large front air dam, huge rear wing and massive guards front and rear to accommodate wide racing tyres, giving the car its Batmobile tag. To keep the weight to a minimum, the bonnet, boot, and doors were aluminium.

Both cars failed to finish in their first outing at Daytona, but three weeks later the team arrived with two cars for the Sebring 12-hour race.

Towards the end of the 1975 12-hour enduro the car was suffering from a failing wheel bearing, a dead alternator and a rear axle temperature that was off the gauge. Redman limped across the finish line after nine hours behind the wheel, three laps ahead of their nearest competitor.

The Sebring winner was sold to BMW dealer and racer Vasek Polak who raced it until putting it in storage in 1978 where it sat for 20 years. Current owner Henry Schmitt, bought the car and spares in 1997, restored it and competed in historic racing until 2007 when he built a replica for racing as the real car was too valuable.

Its historical significance has been confirmed by BMW and it’s being sold in with the original livery restored and the dashboard has been signed by both Brian Redman and Hans Stuck.