This stunning Californian BMW collection is coming under the hammer soon
San Francisco BMW dealer, GT3 and historic racer and car collector Henry Schmitt is selling off his immaculate BMW collection. Included in the stash are a pair of 635 CSL Batmobiles, one of which won the ’75 Sebring 12 Hour. Plus a couple of competition 2002s and the M6 GT3 that Schmitt raced in the US GT3 Challenge this year.
The White Batmobile is a Sebring 12 Hour Winner
60-year-old took Schmitt is also disposing of his ‘95 BMW 850 CSi and Z1. At the Stratas Auction se to go down exclusively online, with that Sebring-winning Batmobile clearly the belle of he ball. BMW 3.0 CSL IMSA, chassis number 987, complete with winning duo Brian Redman and Hans-Joachim Stuck’s autographs on the dashboard.
The second CSL is a replica. It however bears an historic chassis number once intended for a real CSL racer, but never used. The 375 kWl 3.5-liter engine has its original cylinder block with a S38 four-valve cylinder and Kugelfischer fuel injection. The FIA considers the car to be original.
The Batmobile’s great grandson is also coming under the gavel. BMW M6 GT3 number 228 scored a podium second at the 2018 Spa 24-hour. In Alexander Sims, Jens Klingmann and Nicky Catsburg’a hands. Schmitt subsequently acquired and raced the 440 kW 4.4-liter biturbo V8 GT3 machine in the US.
Rally and Race 2002 Also in BMW COLLECTION
Schmitt’s ’69 BMW 2002 racing machine was more recently transformed from a production car. And his 2002 ti rally car is the sister of Achim Warmbold’s ’72 TAP Rally Portugal winner. It has undergone engine, transmission, chassis and braking upgrdes over the years but is historic rally legal.
The two road cars are also most interesting. Schmitt’s rare BMW Alpina Z1 Roadster is one of only of 66 built. Hhalf of which were exported to Japan, while the rest remained in Europe. Serial number 28 was a Japan car. It’s bored-out 150kW 2.7-litre straight six 200 hp has only 34,900 kilometres on the clock. And finally Schmitt’s 850 CSi was one of 1,510 built. It spent most of its life in Sweden before being shipped to the US.
Stratas’ Schmitt BMW Collection Auction commences January 20 2021.
