What’s better than a BMW with a racing pedigree? One that also has ties to music royalty.
Iconic Auctioneers has just listed a race-winning 1973 BMW “Batmobile” that was once owned by Jason Kay of Jamiroquai. The top-tier bimmer will be auctioned off at the Sywell Aerodrome in Northampton, England on May 18, with a pre-sale estimate of between $200,000 and $224,000 (£160,000 and £180,000).
The 3.0 CS (E9) road car was turned into a track-ready beast in the late 1980s by the late saloon racer Tim Busby. Over the following 35 years, the FIA-spec four-wheeler competed on racetracks across the globe and notched many victories.
In 2004, the 3.5-litre was sold to Iconic Auctioneers owner Nick Whale and fellow auto enthusiast Ian Guest. The pair campaigned the car in Patrick Peter’s Classic Endurance Racing series throughout Europe. It raced the Le Mans Classic in 2004 and 2006, winning its “Plateau” on both occasions. It also received the coveted Index of Performance award at the 2006 Le Mans Classic and scored class wins at Monza, Silverstone, and Spa.
The rear.
Alan Kenny
The boxy ride was then sold to Alan Tice, who raced it for two or three seasons in the Masters Series. In 2013, Kay snapped up the vehicle and poured “a lot of money” into it, according to the auction house. The Jamiroquai frontman also enjoyed a track day at Silverstone during his ownership.
The current owner bought the Batmobile from the “Cosmic Girl” singer in 2017, before enlisting Laranca Engineering to prepare the car for a return to the modern European racing scene. Iconic says hundreds of thousands were spent to get it back into fighting shape. The FIA papers were issued soon after and remain valid until December 31, 2027. The car was invited to a recent Le Mans Classic but the owner couldn’t attend as he now lives in South America. His new location is the main reason for “the reluctant sale,” Iconic says. That means, yes, you can now race this beauty.
“Offering access into some of the best historic motorsport in the world, including the legendary Le Mans Classic, this fabulous race car is being offered at a seriously tempting guide price when you consider what it would cost to replicate, the asking price for similar cars, and its proven 35 years-plus race record,” the auction house said in a statement.
The 3.0 CS has become a top-tier BMW collectible, with Batmobiles routinely selling for high six figures. Consider $200,00 a bargain, then.
Click here to see all the photos of the 1973 BMW Batmobile.
Alan Kenny
