Legendary BMW Collection to Cross the Auction Stage, Jan. 20

By Michele Lupini - January 15, 2021

Stunning Californian Schmitt BMW Collection comes under the hammer soon.

San Francisco BMW dealer, GT3 and historic racer and car collector Henry Schmitt is selling off his immaculate BMW collection. Included in the stash are a pair of 635 CSL Batmobiles, one of which won the ’75 Sebring 12 Hour.

Plus a couple of competition 2002s and the M6 GT3 that Schmitt raced in the US GT3 Challenge this year.

White Batmobile Is a Sebring Winner

60-year-old took Schmitt is also disposing of his ‘95 BMW 850 CSi and Z1. At the Stratas Auction se to go down exclusively online, with that Sebring-winning Batmobile clearly the belle of the ball. BMW 3.0 CSL IMSA, chassis number 987, complete with winning duo Brian Redman and Hans-Joachim Stuck’s autographs on the dashboard.

The second CSL is a replica. It however bears an historic chassis number once intended for a real CSL racer, but never used. The 500 hp 3.5-liter engine has its original cylinder block with a S38 four-valve cylinder and Kugelfischer fuel injection. The FIA considers the car to be original.

Black Car is a Continuation 635 CSL

The Batmobile’s great grandson is also coming under the gavel. BMW M6 GT3 number 228 scored a podium second at the 2018 Spa 24-hour. In Alexander Sims, Jens Klingmann and Nicky Catsburg’a hands. Schmitt subsequently acquired and raced the 600 hp 4.4-liter biturbo V8 GT3 machine in the US.

Schmitt more recently transformed his ’69 BMW 2002 racer from a street car. And his 2002 ti rally car is the sister of Achim Warmbold’s ’72 TAP Rally Portugal winner. It has undergone engine, transmission, chassis and braking upgrades over the years but is historic rally legal.

Rally & Race 2002s Also up for Grabs

The two road cars are also most interesting. Schmitt’s rare BMW Alpina Z1 Roadster is one of of 66 built. Half were exported to Japan. The rest remained in Europe. Serial number 28 was a Japan car. It’s bored-out 200 hp 2.7-litre straight six has only 21 000 miles on the clock. And finally, Schmitt’s 850 CSi was one of 1,510 built. It spent most of its life in Sweden before being shipped to the US.