The BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage brings a touch of 1972 to Villa d’Este

Lime-green concept will sport classic touches inside and out

BMW will pay tribute to the classic 3.0 CSL coupe of the 1970s with the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage. It’s set to debut at the 2015 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’ Este on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. There, slathered in electric-green paint, the Hommage will share the grounds with a selection of classic Bimmers -- plus some of the finest and most expensive vintage automotive machinery in the world.

A homologation special built to make the car eligible for racing in the European Touring Car Championship, the original 3.0 CSL was introduced in 1972. Despite the signature boxy rear wing, he “L” stands for “light” -- not “long.” To make it an on-track contender, BMW used thinner steel on the body, deleted soundproofing and used aluminum alloy doors, hood and roof.

In ’73, driver Toine Hezemans won the Euro Touring Car Championship in a CSL and drove one to a class victory at Le Mans. It was also driven by famed hotshoes Hans-Joachim Stuck and Chris Amon later in the 1970s. So you can see why the CSL is a special car.

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This CSL tribute takes inspiration from the earlier racer but uses modern materials and underpinnings; BMW says it “exudes sheer dynamics,” whatever that means. We’re not sure what’s lurking under the Hommage’s carbon fiber, but an M235i wouldn’t be a bad place to start. Whatever it is, it gets bigger wheel arches and a prominent spoiler that outline the flying-buttress fenders.

This year’s Concorso takes place May 23-24, and tickets are still available. A single ticket for Saturday is 9 euros ($10). Sunday will cost you 15 euros ($17). Plane tickets to Italy are considerably more expensive.

This edition of the Concorso will pay special attention to pre-war coachbuilt cars, pre-war sports cars and all forms of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, among others. Go to concorsodeleganzavilladeste.com for more information.

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