Published May 6, 2024 | Last update: February 27, 2026 | 20 models online
When BMW started their works team in the 1970’s, they introduced a new color combination to the race tracks that is still in use; the red-purple-blue on a white background. The colors have changed a little bit over the years, the blue is somewhat paler and the purple is more dark blue now, but the combination is still very recognizable.
BMW 3.0 CSL 1973
1973 Le Mans 24h, BMW 3.0 CSL. BMW lost the battle to Ford in 1972, but was the strongest in 1973. Toine Hezemans and Dieter Quester took victory in the Touring Car Class at Le Mans.
#51 Toine Hezemans (NL) / Dieter Quester (A) – 11th / 1st Touring
BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.5 liter BMW M30B35 straight-6, approx. 350 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1060 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #2275998
- SPARK S1562 (resin)
1973 Spa-Francorchamps 24h, BMW 3.0 CSL. By the time the European Touring Car Championship reached Spa-Francorchamps, the BMW had homologated the rear wing and roof spoiler. Toine Hezemans and Dieter Quester won both the 24-hour race and the European Touring Car Championship.
#10 Toine Hezemans (NL) / Dieter Quester (A) – 1st
BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.5 liter BMW M30B35 straight-6, approx. 350 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1060 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #2275998
- SPARK SB026 (resin)
BMW 3.0 CSL 1974
1974 Nürburgring 1000 km, BMW 3.0 CSL
BMW didn’t compete in all races in 1974, so Ford took the European title in their last year with the Capri. BMW however, did compete in some world championship races such as the 1000 km at the Nürburging. Not in the familiar white, but in a dark blue livery. The T on the car means that it competed in the Touring category. Ickx and Stuck had a nice battle with arch enemy Ford (see pic), but retired with a broken gearbox.
BMW Motorsport #71: Jacky Ickx (B) / Hans J. Stuck (D)
Results: Start-grid 17th / time 8:06.200 / race DNF gearbox -3 laps
BMW 3.0 CSL – Touring Group 2, division 2 >2L: Powered by 3.5 liter BMW M30B35 straight-6, approx. 380 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #unknown
- SPARK SG625 #049 / 400 pcs (resin)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
- Appears in #034 BMW Motorsport / #094 BMW CSL E9 / 115 Jacky Ickx / #127 Hans J. Stuck
BMW 3.0 CSL 1975
1975 Sebring 12h, BMW 3.0 CSL
BMW won the European Touring Car title in 1973 and didn’t compete in all races in 1974, BMW moved their activities to North America. The 3.0 CSL won Sebring with four drivers as Stuck and Posey moved to the #25 when their car #24 broke down.
BMW Motorsport USA #25: Ronnie Petersen (S) / Brian Redman (GB) / Hans J. Stuck (D) / Sam Posey (USA)
Results: Start-grid 4th / time 2:51.634 / race 1st – 238 laps
BMW 3.0 CSL – IMSA GTO: Powered by 3.5 liter BMW M49/1 – straight-6, approx. 440 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #2275984
- MINICHAMPS MC430 752925 (diecast 1:43)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
- MINICHAMPS 80432454792 (metal 1:18)
- Overall rating: 5 STARS | Quality details: 5 STARS | Estimated value: 5 STARS
- Appear in #034 BMW Motorsport / #094 BMW CSL E9 / #127 Hans J. Stuck
1975 Norisring, BMW 3.0 CSL
At the end of the 1974 season, Ford retired from Motorsport and archrival BMW went to the USA. Only for the most prestigious race in the 1975 DRM Championship at the Norisring , the old rivals met again. Peterson drove the BMW in the non championship Norisring Trophy or “money race” and Stuck piloted it in the DRM race. Both times the BMW retired with brake problems. That DRM race was won by Jochen Mass in the old factory Capri. The BMW missed some striping on the hood on Sunday, remainders of the small crash that Stuck had in qualifying.
BMW Motorsport #30: Hans J. Stuck (D)
Results: Start-grid 1st / time 0:56.500 / race DNF brakes – 55 laps
BMW 3.5 CSL – DRM division I: Powered by 3.5 liter BMW M49/1 – straight-6, approx. 440 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #unknown
- MINICHAMPS MC430 752930 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
- Appears in #094 BMW CSL E9 / #127 Hans J. Stuck
1976 BMW 3.5 CSL & turbo
1976 Daytona 24h, BMW 3.5 CSL
The factory “Bavarian Motor Works” team won the Sebring 12-hour race last year and this year’s Daytona 24-hour race. The Coca Cola sponsored #24 BMW finished 10th despite the damage. The team mates with #59 won!
BMW Motorsport 59: Peter Gregg (USA) / Brian Redman (GB) / John Fitzpatrick (GB)
Results: Start-grid 2nd / time 1:57.427 / race 10th – 481 laps / 9th GTO
BMW 3.5 CSL – IMSA GTO. Powered by 3.5 liter BMW M49/1 – straight-6, approx. 440 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnrs. BMW E9 #unknown
- TRUE SCALE MINIATURES TSM 114347 (resin)
- MINICHAMPS MC430 762959 (diecast)
1976 Silverstone 6h, BMW 3.0 CSL turbo
BMW customer teams contested the World Championship with normally aspirated CSL’s, not without success but they couldn’t match the pace of the Porsche 935 turbo. BMW developed a turbo version of the CSL that delivered a stunning 750 hp. It retired while the normally aspirated Tom Walkinshaw prepared CSL won the race. The turbo car would later race at Le Mans as Art Car, painted by Frank Stella.
BMW Motorsport #1: Ronnie Peterson (S) / Gunnar Nilsson (S)
Results: Start-grid 2nd / 1:27.930 / race DNF gearbox – 43 laps
BMW 3.0 CSL turbo – Group 5: Powered by 3.2 liter BMW M49/4 straight-6 turbo, approx. 750 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 1100 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #2275980
- SPARK SG376 (resin)
- Overall rating: 5 STARS | Quality details: 5 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
- Also appears in #094 BMW CSL E9 / #127 Hans J. Stuck
BMW 320i
1977 DRM Championship, BMW 320i
The BMW factory team for 1977 was formed by three young talents; Winkelhock, Surer and Cheever. Surer won the season opener at Zolder. At the Norisring the three misbehaved so much they were replaced by the BMW Gentlemen team for one race. But BMW gave them a great education and all three of them made it to F1.
BMW Junior Team #12: Marc Surer (CH)
Results Bergischer Löwe Zolder : Start-grid 1st / time 1:39.000 / race 1st – 24 laps
BMW Junior Team #13: Manfred Winkelhock (D)
Results Westfalen Pokal Zolder: Start-grid 1st / time 1:39.200 / race 1st – 24 laps
BMW 320i – DRM Division II , Group 5 <2L: Powered by 2.0 liter BMW M12/7 straight-4, approx. 305 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 740 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnrs. BMW #E21-R1-02 & BMW #E21-R1-03
- MINICHAMPS MC400 772313 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
- QUARTZO Q3020 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
1978 IMSA Laguna Seca 100 miles, BMW 320 turbo
After just one year, BMW ended the Junior Team in the DRM, the drivers moved on to Formula 2 with support from BMW. Under the banner of BMW North America, the works 320 was now raced in the USA in the IMSA GTX. which is the American counterpart of the European Group 5 cars. This BMW 320 ran in the 1978 IMSA Championship with David Hobbs. At first with a normally aspirated 2.0 liter and halfway the season he switched to a 2.0 liter turbo car with which he could challenge the mighty Porsche 935s.
BMW of North America # 2: David Hobbs (GB)
Results: Start-grid 4th / Race 4th – 51 laps
BMW 320 turbo (E21) – IMSA GTX: Powered by 2.0 liter BMW M12/9 straight-4 turbo, approx. 500 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 780 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW #E21-R1-10
- QUARTZO Q3037 (Citicorp stickers are missing) (resin)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS
BMW M1 Procar
1979 Procar Championship, BMW M1
The BMW M1 is most famous because of the Procar Championship. A racing series in which regular top drivers competed against formula 1 stars that were offered a factory car. The fastest 5 F1 drivers in the Friday practice were offered a drive from the first 5 starting positions (except the Ferrari drivers who were not allowed to compete by the Scuderia, same for the Renault drivers and some drivers that had Michelin contracts). Didier Pioni was one of the F1 guest drivers and had two podium finishes, Mario Andretti competed in Monza but didn’t finish.
BMW Motorsport #1: Mario Andretti (USA)
Results: Procar Monza DNF
BMW Motorsport #3: Didier Pironi (F)
Results: Procar Hockenheim 4th
BMW M1 (E26) – Procar: Powered by 3.5 liter BMW M88/1 straight-6 24V, approx. 470 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 1020 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnrs. #unknown
- #1 QUARTZO Q3038 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS
- #3 MINICHAMPS MC430 792505 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
- Both also appear in #034 BMW Motorsport
BMW 635 CSi Group A
1983 European Touring Car Championship Monza, BMW 635 CSi
After the Group 5 disappeared, touring cars came back in the picture. In 1982 BMW used the 4-door saloon 528i, but for the 1983 season it homologated the 635 CSi. Numerous teams used the car and the Schnitzer team won the first race of the ETCC season. This works car finished 4th. Unfortunately I couldn’t find a picture of the actual car …
BMW Motorsport #11: Bruno Giacomelli (I) / Thierry Boutsen (B)
Results: Start-grid 10th / time 2:07.770 / race 4th – 87 laps
BMW 635 CSi – Group A: Powered by BMW M30B34 straight-6, approx. 310 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1185kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E24 #unknown
- MINICHAMPS MC430 832611 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
- Also appears in #104 BMW 5- & 6-series
1984 European Touring Car Championship Donington, BMW 635 CSi
The Jaguar XJS was surprisingly homologated for group A by the clever TWR team and took the European Touring Car title. This is one of the many BMW 635 CSi that tried to stop the Jaguars. Schnitzer operated as the official BMW team, Quester and Stuck finished in third place at Donington.
BMW Motorsport / Schnitzer #8: Hans J. Stuck (D) / Dieter Quester (A)
Results: Start-grid 9th / time 1:19,530 / race 3rd – 159 laps
BMW 635 CSi – Group A. Powered by 3.5 liter BMW M30B34 straight-6, approx. 310 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1185kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E24 #RA2-34
- MINICHAMPS BMW 80 42 9 421 765 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
- Also appears in #034 BMW Motorsport part I / #104 BMW 5- & 6-series / #127 Hans J. Stuck
1986 European Touring Car Championship, BMW 635 CSi
BMW was the only brand that competed in the European Touring Car Championship all years. The competition came and went, such as Jaguar, Rover and Volvo. In 1986 BMW had to battle the TWR prepared Rovers. Rover took the makes title, but it was the extraordinary Roberto Ravaglia that won the drivers title. He shared his Schnitzer BMW with several drivers and won the Jarama race together with Emanuele Pirro.
BMW Motorsport / Schnitzer #10: Roberto Ravaglia (I) / Emanuelle Pirro (I)
Results: Start-grid 8th / time 1:33,890 / race 1st – 150 laps
BMW 635 CSi – Group A. Powered by 3.5 liter BMW M30B34 straight-6, approx. 310 hp. Pirelli tires. Weight 1185kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E24 #RA2-79
- MINICHAMPS BMW 80 420 026 631 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
- Also appears in #012 Schnitzer / #104 BMW 5- & 6-series
BMW GTP
1986 IMSA Portland 300 km, BMW GTP
BMW had been succesful in USA with their touring cars and in Formula 1 with their turbo engines. The Germans decided to combine and bought two March chassis which they equiped with a 2-liter version of their 4 cylinder F1 turbo engine. The cars were powerful (upto 1000 bhp in qualifying) but hard to drive and not very reliable. Davy Jones and John Andretti managed a win at Watkins Glen. The best result of #19, driven by John Watson and David Hobbs was 4th at Portland. They could have won the race, but were delayed by a problem with the seat belts during the driver change.
BMW M Team #19:John Watson (GB) / David Hobbs (GB)
Results: Start-grid 8th / time unknown / race 4th – 97 laps
BMW GTP – IMSA GTP: Powered by 2.0 liter BMW M12/14 straight-4 turbo, approx. 800 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 910 kg. Aluminum monocoque, chassisnr. March 86G #02
- SPARK S2571 (resin)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
- Also appears in #114 BMW 4-cylinder engines part II / #107 Group C
BMW M3 E30
1988 Spa-Francorchamps 24h, BMW M3
The BMW M3 (E30) is the successor of the big 635 CSi in group A touring cars. 1988 saw great racing between Ford and BMW. The Fords with their turbo-engines won most races and the title, but Francorchamps is BMW territory; the Germans already won 5 out of the last 6 races. With the double points he earned with his win at Spa, Italian Roberto Ravaglia took the European Touring Car Championship drivers title just as in the previous year.
BMW Motorsport / Schnitzer #56: Roberto Ravaglia (I) / Dieter Quester (A) / Altfrid Heger (D)
Results: Start-grid 6th / time 2:27.930 / race 1st – 509 laps
BMW M3 – Group A: Powered by 2.3 liter BMW S14B23 straight-4, approx. 300 hp. Yokohama tires. Weight 960 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E30 #unknown
- IXO Hekorsa HE 033D (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
- Also appears in #061 Bastos & Belga / #012 Schnitzer / #114 BMW 4-cylinder engines part II
1990 Spa-Francorchamps 24h, BMW M3 evo
Again the race went on between BMW and Ford in this non-championship race. The Schnitzer BMWs again were the quickest but only just. The #24 BMW finished 2nd just over a minute behind the winning #25 and the fastest Sierra Cosworth was 3rd, still in the same lap as the winner.
BMW M Team Schnitzer #25: Johnny Cecotto (VEN / Markus Oestreich (D / Fabien Giroix (F) – 1st
Results: Start-grid 4th / time 2:35.730 / race 1st – 468 laps
BMW M3 evo – Group A: Powered by 2.5 liter BMW S14B25 straight-4, approx. 350 hp. Yokohama tires. Weight 950 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E30 #unknown
- MINICHAMPS 2004 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS
- Also appears in #012 Schnitzer / #114 BMW 4-cylinder engines part II
1991 DTM Championship, BMW M3 evo
The German DTM was a battlefield between BMW and Mercedes and since previous year also Audi. The factory BMW team had a strong line-up with Soper, Winkelhock, Hahne and Johnny Cecotto. The latter was a previous motorcycle world champion and also drove F1. He was the best BMW driver this year with 3 wins and 4th spot in the championship. Biela was the champ, driving one of the Audi V8 Quattro’s.
BMW M Team Schnitzer #3:Johnny Cecotto (VEN)
Results: 3 x 1st / 4th championship
BMW M3 evo – DTM: Powered by 2.5 liter BMW S14B25 straight-4, approx. 350 hp. Yokohama tires. Weight 950 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E30 #unknown
- AutoArt 69145 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
- Also appears in #012 Schnitzer / #114 BMW 4-cylinder engines part II
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