As the resident BMW fanatic, it’s not hard to see why this photo got my blood pumping. A barn find BMW E9 coupe in any form is exciting, but especially when it has the widebody box flares attached and all the other clues to a racing history. Well, this 1972 BMW 3.5 CSI here on RaceCarsDirect has since been restored, but it’s still an amazing find now that the resurrection is complete.

Not much info is given about its history, but the seller claims this photo shows the car in period race trim. It sounds like this was not a factory car, but rather a private entry that had the genuine Group 4 aluminum body kit added on at some point in its life. My guess is this car has been a race car since nearly new and based on the authenticity of the kit and the Alpina graphics, the original owner spared no expense in making a replica of BMW’s lightweight CSL cars built for the European Touring Car championship.

Now completely restored, the barn find E9 wears the classic Motorsports livery and wide BBS wheels, along with the various aero bits that helped these cars fly on tracks like Le Mans. The engine has also been worked over to 3.5L with triple Webers and a dogleg gearbox (likely close ratio) to stir the inline-six to life. I’ve always found these cars beautiful, but not standing still – only at full chat with the various spoilers doing everything they can to keep the car on the ground.

To be a race fan in the ’60s and ’70s had to have been incredible. Access was easier, the price of entry was lower and the cars were so much closer to the real thing. Aero kits reigned supreme and paint jobs were extensions of personalities, not corporate branding. The image above captures the spirit of these E9 racecars perfectly, but the car for sale here needs some rub marks on its fenders and brake dust on its wheels to be perfect, in my opinion. For about $115,000 U.S., one of you could have the chance to get some grass stains on the knees of this restored E9 CSL homage – but I get the first ride-along.