Quote:
Originally Posted by Law
Thanks for pointing out that detail.
It must've been my wording in the original post. It wasn't the intention.
In any case, I've fixed the OP to correct the misunderstanding.
ALPINA was indeed tasked with spearheading the development of the 3.0 CSL, since they were the contemporary BMW experts in touring car racing.
To BMW's credit, the racing department (and the people) within BMW that facilitated this cooperation & development would be later formally incorporated as BMW Motorsport GmbH in 1972 as more key people joined the division.
So while the 3.0 CSL does predate the formal establishment of BMW Motorsport GmbH, that doesn't mean the department/division itself didn't exist in the CSL's development.
It's still widely considered that the 3.0 CSL is BMW M's "first" creation. Not the first BMW to bear the M Badge, but the car that marked the birth of BMW M.
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The CSL concept was not BMW's idea. BMW left racing in 1969, but it supported Alpina's racing. Alpina knew that the 2800 CS was too heavy, so it sent BMW a letter with the plan to increase the engine to a 3.0 and cut weight. BMW tasked Alpina with doing it because it couldn't.
The CSL name was chosen after it was built and needed to be marketed for homologation. So one thing has always been true, M is for marketing.