Noosa Concours d’ Elegance, 2024, Part 2: The Germans

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Usually, I’m not so much into German cars.  But this 1972 BMW 3.0 CSL (E9) was - for me, at least - Deutsches auto des tag at the 2024 Noosa Concours d’ Elegance, beating out a host of admittedly very nice Porsches and a couple of tasty Mercs.  


There’s something so, so special about the Karmann-built CS, or Coupe Sport line. Their slender roof pillars and light-filled cabins elevate them above the E3, the still beautiful but more everyday sedan with which they share significant styling cues.  This example, being a lightweight homologation special (the L in CSL standing for leicht, which means light in German), is the range-topper if you discount the Alpina and AC Schnitzer competition editions, and BMW’s own “Batmobile” racing car.







I know that you know these lovely Porsches are 356s.  And, thanks to some very obvious badges, it abundantly clear that they’re Speedsters rather than just cabriolets, not that I’d otherwise have much of a clue as to the difference.  Something to do with the former having lower, more raked windscreen, perhaps?  Possibly the latter’s a little bit more luxe, too?   Anyway, they’re quite cool - especially the red one with its period correct bucket seats and wood rimmed Nardi (?) steering wheel. 











This Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing was also particularly beautiful but that’s not the sole reason that it made the editorial cut whilst two other examples of the model also present on the day didn’t.   Why?  Any car that’s participated in any of the iconic Targa Tasmania events has got my attention and this one has, as evidenced by its Targa Tasmania 30th anniversary “T30” number plates.


Sadly, Tasmania’s famous tarmac rally has been put on hold following the tragic deaths of several competitors during the 2021 and 2022 (30th anniversary) events, meaning that this car saw action in the last running of Targa to date.  We all hope that it will return, bigger, better and - most importantly - safer than ever in 2025.  In the meantime, here’s a video showing this very car in action during T30: https://youtu.be/7ztP87n6kbU?si=EQIFgAP-mBvT3qQS.  









I may have made a masturbatory allusion* to the Lamborghini equivalent of this off-road Porsche - a Huracan - featured in Part 1 of UMPH’s coverage of Noosa ‘24 (please see https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2024/07/noosa-concours-d-elegance-2024-part-1.html).  But this car - a 911 Dakar - is an entirely more credible vehicle, having been designed for serious competition in the very rally for which it is named (please see: https://www.porsche.com/australia/models/911/911-dakar/911-dakar/).  I’m not so sure what the point of the Huracan is, other than … .  Anyway.  












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U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au)

iPhone images. 




* Put in more basic terms, I more or less suggested that anyone who drove one was a w⚓️. 

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