By the mid-1970s, Holden’s former darling Peter Brock was setting up his own team and through this the aim was to gain support for an international program including a tilt at Le Mans.
The support didn’t come, but the Le Mans attempt did in one of the most revered models to hit the track.
Brock had parted ways with Holden in 1974, forcing the star driver to team with Melbourne privateers Norm Gown and Bruce Hindhaugh. It proved successful as Brock secured his second Bathurst win alongside Brian Sampson before going it alone for 1976.
Team Brock was formed to aid in his international ambitions and the first step was to purchase an appropriate model.
Enter the BMW 3.0 CSL.
Gaining the nickname ‘Batmobile’ because of its outlandish bodykit, the CSL was light, powerful and fast as proven by its multiple European Touring Car Championships.
Brock had caught wind of a CSL available in South Africa where he flew and watched it compete in the annual Kyalami Nine Hour Endurance Race. Talks with BMW Motorsport staff proved positive in his aims of building an international racing program and was told support not only locally, but Europe was on the cards.
On this basis, Brock purchased the CSL and a huge parts inventory to take back to his workshop, but by this time BMW’s motorsport policy had changed removing all of its planned support.
Holden and BMW dealer Bill Patterson was an eager supporter of the Le Mans tilt, while Brock mechanic Garnett Bateson led the way in preparation alongside Bob Gracie after gaining experience of the CSL in the BMW factory.
The BMW was ‘Australianised’ in areas such as the brakes, electrical system and was given a fresh paint job prior to being airfreighted to the UK in a Qantas jet.
Once landed, the BMW’s spare parts were a victim of a customs dispute, which proved a major setback for the team.
After a deal fell through with Vern Schuppan, the experienced Brian ‘Yogi’ Muir was installed as Brock’s co-driver. A leading CSL driver in Europe, Australian ex-pat Muir also had experience at Le Mans to aid the tight budgeted campaign.
The last point was proven when Brock qualified on old tyres to start mid-pack, but the BMW was very sharp especially on the uninterrupted 5km Mulsanne Straight!
The race proved a disaster when on the opening lap a half-shaft broke leading to the brakes only working on one side as the borrowed component was not designed for Brock’s Australian system.
However, it was the engine ending the team’s day and this ended BMW’s race as well, with Brock’s being the last CSL running. Also, to highlight the trouble the team was having, the rear wing was also fitted upside down making the CSL more twitchier than it should have been.
Luck failed to arrive in Austria too when Brock took on a 1000km race, but again the engine failed early.
The BMW has since been restored in the factory colours when it was driven by greats including Derek Bell, Brian Redman, Jacky Ickx and Ronnie Peterson.