BMW's secret heritage vault houses four landmark models

A Forbes piece tours BMW UK's heritage fleet and highlights four cars — the 3.0 CSL 'Batmobile', M1, Z1 and E39 M5 — describing their histories, specifications and the author's driving impressions.

BMW UK maintains a large heritage fleet that preserves notable on-road and motorsport examples. A Forbes contributor visited the collection and selected four highlights spanning 1973 to 2001. The chosen cars are the 3.0 CSL "Batmobile", the BMW M1, the Z1 and the E39 M5. The piece describes each model's history, key specifications and the author's driving impressions. Highlighted cars: - BMW 3.0 CSL "Batmobile": an aerodynamic version of the 3.0 CSL with large wings, a rear spoiler and other aero bits that reportedly shaved more than 10 seconds off a Nürburgring lap. Just over 1,200 CSLs were produced and fewer than 200 Batmobile variants were made; the example cited uses a 3153cc straight-six rated at about 206bhp and 215lb ft. - BMW M1: BMW M's first road-going model and its only mid-engined production car, with 453 built and 54 specified to Procar standard. Road power was quoted at 277bhp while race-prepared Procar cars were boosted toward 470bhp, and the model was used in the BMW Procar series where Niki Lauda won in 1979 and Nelson Piquet won in 1980. - BMW Z1: Introduced from a late-1980s concept, public reaction led to series production and more than 5,000 Z1s were made after BMW increased its planned run. The car is noted for its doors that retract into the body, a 2494cc six-cylinder with about 170bhp, a 0–62mph time of 7.9 seconds and a quoted top speed of 141mph; its original UK price was listed at £36,925. - BMW E39 M5: Described as a ‘‘sleeper,’’ the E39 M5 example has a reworked V8 enlarged to 4,941cc and is paired with a six-speed manual. The article notes a mix of executive comforts (heated and electrically adjustable seats, rotary infotainment control, built-in mobile phone) and driving-focused character that leans more toward road use than outright track aggression. Summary: The Forbes article presents BMW UK's heritage collection as a resource that preserves models which helped shape BMW's motorsport and road-car development, using four vehicles to illustrate shifts in design and engineering from 1973 to 2001. Each car is described with production details, technical specifications and first-person driving impressions. Undetermined at this time.