Classic Classified: 1973 BMW 3.0CS
From: Cars & Parts
Date: May 1981
Price then: $11,000 ($28,200 adjusted for inflation – about the cost of a new 2015 Ford Focus ST)
Price now: $12,200 – $57,400
Approximate dollar difference: $29,000 (assuming #1 condition)
Approximate annual rate of return: 2.1%
BMW 1973 3.0CS. Alloys, air conditioning, classic coupe, sunroof, leather, AM-FM-cassette, 4-speed. Must sell. $11,000.
The E9 BMW has become an icon among BMW enthusiasts. With the success of the CSL Batmobiles in racing, even the 3.0CS has become a sought-after car for those who want a piece of the 3.0’s legacy. Even as an 8-year-old car, this was not a cheap set of wheels in 1981 and begs the question of what the listing price would have been if the seller wasn’t motivated to sell? 34 years later we see that this car hasn’t lost any of its appeal, and although it hasn’t gained much in value after inflation is taken into account, recent trends show that not much value was lost either. Considering that these are more enthusiasts’ cars, whoever bought this one was likely less concerned with investment than with owning the original “ultimate driving machine.”
