A German Hotrod - E9 3.5 CSL

Ten years after completion, we take a look into the creation of one of the most unique and thorough E9 CSL’s ever created. In October of 2019, we had the privilege of sitting down with Joe Rodriguez and Jack Deren, as they reminisced on their seventeen year journey of the “German hotrod” build. Cloaked as a traditional CSL, this S38 powered E9 has motorsports in its DNA, concourse quality attention to detail in every square inch, and is enjoyed on the streets at leisure.
This is what I love to do. Matt initially linked me with Joe and helped by driving the camera car and finding us beauty shot locations. Otherwise it was not a huge scale production by any means. All me and my stuff running around making sure I got it all. From taping microphones underneath a race car for audio to putting on a one car show in the center of Ridgewood, this experience was one of the best I could ask for.
Thank you Joe and thank you Jack for sharing such a wonderful story and for letting us in.
Thank you AutoCouture for all your help in making all of my videos possible.
Thank you to Ultimate Klasse for giving me a platform to tell this story.
Thank YOU for watching. Leave comments here and on the KZbin video. The feedback is one of the best parts for me.

[@ryanpooler3962]

What an AWESOME build!!!! Nailed it!!

[@gmain1977]

This video should have much more views. I am a muscle car guy, but this build is top notch, era from 70-90 is BMWs finest hour. Love the CSLs and these funky colours

[@klintonkacatin]

This just popped up after viewing some Mugello classics. Yes this is an amazing vehicle and sad the amount of work here is having low view count.

[@yankeeairpirate1799]

Wow, love this car and your presentation...this coming from a total 911 guy, having raced in IMSA and SCCA against both Peter Gregg and Al Holbert in Porsche’s....always loved the 3.5 CSL. The racing sound from these cars is still gripping. Thanks for the memories.

[@vanheestvisual]

Thanks for the kind words! That’s awesome you raved against Peter gregg!

[@TrevorS38]

What the hell. How have I not seen this yet and how does this only have 389 views? Added to my queue for sure.

[@vanheestvisual]

It was originally uploaded on the ultimate klasse KZbin but was unfortunately deleted, so I reuploaded it here but the views never took off. I wish I could get more eyeballs on it, it’s my top automotive related doc I think.

[@Philipj8]

Remarkable story combining history, passion and talent to finally make it a reality...

[@vanheestvisual]

Couldn’t agree more. Inspirational!

[@kyle_yaam]

This is so sick

[@vanheestvisual]

Thanks bro!

[@UnderTheHoodTuner]

Great work as always

[@tkj.winter5047]

Very well done, Sir ! This is a perfect build with all the details .. nice story and pictures also. I grew up in the time the CSL raced and just ONE time I saw a CSL in street legal race setup on my way home from school .. wow. Being a German I went opposite way and build me an American hotrod (btw I like the term German hotrod), also as a long time project. From that point I truly appreciate your perseverance to fulfill your dream. Thank you for sharing !

[@robert5]

I just love the style of this BMW 3.5 CSL. I love the IMSA cars of the 1980's. I used to see them at Laguna Seca and Sonoma raceway in person. Now I am building a 1968 mustang IMSA style race car using a NASCAR ASA tube chassis and the mustang body. The ASA chassis have been used successfully in TA2 trans am cars so it is going to work really well for my car. For style I am down to ether this BMW 3.5 CSL or the IMSA Dekon Monza #20. I really want to give it a go with the Dekon Monza style but this BMW box flair style would go really well with the 68 mustang notchback body. I think I'll do one side BMW style like this car and the other side Dekon Monza as a styling exercise and see what version [side] I like best. Might like them both and thus need to build 2 complete lower bodies, one like this BMW and the other like the Dekon Monza. Both are so vary cool. What ever way I go it is going to be super fast, I have an original boss 302 from a 1960's A sedan race car to put in it. One of the TA2 teams that raced in the 2023 Detroit GP is helping me out with tires and parts.

[@vanheestvisual]

Sounds like an awesome project! Thanks for watching. Box fender mustang would be soooo cool. Epic engine too!!!

[@kyungjaemin]

great video! gives me the old petrolicious vibes.

[@azabreham]

Great production I'd love to see that steering rack swap

[@rolux4853]

Amazing car! I had the honor to drive a regular street legal e9 CSi, an e24 Group A Touring Car and the e30 Johnny Cecotto M3 DTM. Plus a lot of less scarce BMW race cars and road cars from the 90s and early, 320is, 318ti Cup, M3, M5, M6, 850i and so on. But my absolute dream would be a full blown e9 CSL race car! One question that I have is, why didn’t you use the original dogleg transmission? To me the first down low is one of the most important feelings when driving the car. Having the driving gears inside the H-pattern is just incredible! Best regards from Germany!

[@zahhman]

This is dopetacular…

[@pete-mz9vr]

Awesome car! Do the police hassle you when you drive it around??

[@y0057]

That’s a beautiful engine. For me one of the best bmw engines. Sounds absolutely horny at high revs close to maclaren f1 kind of good or at the very least m3csl good. Great car right there, great couple of guys and beautiful story. Thank you❤️👌🏿🔥🔥🙏🏿

[@shanefanon]

BMW 2800 CS that I purchased in 1976 and sold in 1999 remains the BIGGEST mistake I have made in cars .

[@pete-mz9vr]

If David Hobbs is still alive, maybe invite him to drive it?

[@micowikstrom7182]

Looks amazing! What's the closing song?

[@vanheestvisual]

Thank you! the final song is "Cinema Jazz" by Pavlo Butorin

[@micowikstrom7182]

Thanks!👍@@vanheestvisual

[@johnnyboy1586]

Nice but the huge rear wing is a bit much for me but i suppose it goes with the overall widened body look

[@vanheestvisual]

Period correct for the win. The wing is totally outrageous but the car is in every way lol

[@jmark7390]

I am a 72 year old young lesbian and love this car.

[@ThomasSpachtholz]

For me it´s the essence of motorsport in general, the 3.0 or 3.5 CSL Batmobile in full M-warpaint leaps to my mind immediately. No Formula 1 runner, no NASCAR or Indy bullyboy, no whatever. It´s got to be this beauty, it´s got everything, EVERYTHING. Design, soundscape, history, drivers, victories. And it flings me right back into my favourite decade, them beautiful while at the same time treacherous ´70s. Just a little discord concerning the video: Those 60s loungejazz-noodlings - well, they don´t fit the subject at all. Annoying, really.