BMW has built many epic performance cars throughout its existence. However, one model that stands out, in particular, is the 1968 to 1975 BMW 3.0 CS E9. The elegant GT coupe is A basis for one of the most successful competition cars BMW has ever made – "the Batmobile" – and in road-going form, it's one of the most beloved GT cars ever made. What's even better is that an exceptionally preserved 1974 BMW 3.0 CS is currently listed at classiccars.com for the relatively attainable $44,500, and here's why you should consider it.

Located in sunny California

The car was listed for sale back in September under listing ID: CC-1486668. Being a 1974 car, it's one of the last production years of the E9 model. The car is located in Beverly Hills, California, which is a good thing since these "Beemers" are known to rust in some odd places, in addition to the usual ones. The advert also says it has zero miles on the odometer, which is quite interesting.

The ad lacks a lot of details, but the car looks like it may have been completely restored. It also comes with receipts worth over $2,000 for work done to the interior.

It’s a rare spec

This particular BMW E9 is one of the last finished in Verona Red exterior color and with a Sand Beige leather interior. A total of 2,694 cars were produced in 1974, and by 1975, a total of 30,546 examples were made from all versions of the E9.

It's a 3.0 CS (not a CSi), which means the 3.0-liter, M30, SOHC, inline-six engine is equipped with twin-carburetors, as opposed to the CSi's Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection. The carbureted unit produced 180 horsepower at 6,000 RPM and 188 pound-feet (255 Nm) at 3,700 RPM.

This particular example comes with the three-speed automatic, which is less desirable than the four-speed manual. Although the automatic does not give any performance benefits, it's worth remembering that the BMW 3.0 CS is more of a gran-tourer than a sports car.

1974 BMW 3.0 CS specifications

Solid mechanics

The BMW E9 is known to be mechanically bulletproof. The M30 engine is a robust unit, and even when stretched to 3.5 liters, in the BMW 635i E24, it's still under-stressed. Some would even say that the Bavarian SOHC inline-six engine is BMW's equivalent of the Chevy small-block. As for the rest of the car's mechanics. They are simple, and finding parts is not as difficult as you may think.

What to look out for

With classic cars, in particular, there's a lot you should look out for. And while this stunning red example seems to be in great shape, the E9 is known to suffer from rust in some unusual places. While you should definitely check the usual ones like the shock towers, floor, rocker panels, around the wheel arches, and windows, rusty cowls can be a real turn-off on these. Some experts say it's because of the cover of the cowl area and the material it's made of, which traps water behind it.

The takeaway

For many, the BMW E9 represents what BMW, as a carmaker, should have always been. You can definitely see how this reflects the pricing of this 1970s classic coupe. Moreover, it's from a time when BMW made properly over-engineered vehicles, and it's the car that spawned one of the most notorious racecars in motorsport history. Sure, it's automatic, but does it really matter?