The BMW E9, aka the Batmobile, is a legend among legends and far rarer than cars like the BMW Z8 or even the BMW 2002. It was produced from 1968 to 1975, and over that period only 30,765 examples were built. Sadly, there are few left that are actually attainable with many being restored to the point that they are worth a small fortune and two marriages, and most of those that haven’t been probably lost to the scrap pile. Every now and then, you hear about one that won’t break the bank, and today we’re here to talk about one that is, well, definitely unique. It’s not a real CSL, which is probably a good thing considering what’s been done to it, but it still might be hard to stomach the complete transformation that this E9 Coupe has gone through.

Tesla-Powered BMW E9 Coupe

Over the course of seven years, BMW sold the E9 in several different configurations, with displacement ranging from 2.5-liters to as much as 3.2-liters (3,153cc), carbureted or fuel injected (Bosch D-Jetronic), and with power ranging from 148 horsepower to as much as 206 horsepower in CSL form. Power was sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed Getrag manual or a three-speed ZF/Borg-Warner automatic. A limited-slip differential was standard on the CSL and optional on other cars, but in the case of this very strange example, none of that matters. Originally found in horrible shape, with a completely thrashed interior (the sunroof was left open for years!), Electric Classic Cars decided it was the perfect candidate for a Tesla motor swap. Yes, you read that right, this E9 is powered by a Tesla motor of all things.

The entire electric powertrain and the batteries come from a Tesla Model S donor car and are now situated inside the engine bay where the straight-six used to be. The original brakes were swapped out for a set of Wilwoods, and Alpina wheels were thrown in for good measure. According to Electric Classic Cars, the overall curb weight of the car hasn’t changed much, but horsepower from the electric motor is more than double – even if it was a real 206-horsepower CSL. It’s now good for 450 ponies, and while the E9 was once capable of hitting 60 mph in 7-9.7 seconds depending on the model, this one can now make the same sprint in a cool three-seconds flat. Apparently, it’s good for about 200 miles of range, which really isn’t that bad. The heat you catch from a purist or enthusiast might be, however.

In the end, this E9 would have either been sent to scrap or been the subject of a major budget spend as it was apparently in horrible condition, so at least it wasn’t sent to the pile. The interior had to be reworked as well, but at a glance, this thing does still look like an E9 – it’s just hiding a very dirty secret under the hood. What do you think? Is this a worthy way for a forgotten and neglected BMW E9 to live out its older years or should someone have taken the time to properly restore it to its natural state?