AN ULTRA-RARE BMW dubbed “The Batmobile” is set to go up at auction for a whopping £180,000 due to its former links to a 90s musical icon.
Despite setting back any new owner a ridiculous amount of cash the vintage race car is truly a thing of beauty and comes with an illustrious history in the famous Le Mans competition.
The 1973 BMW Batmobile has remarkably stayed in an impeccable condition in the last 50 years with its white bodywork and blue and green racing stripes still looking the part.
Inside, the motor is simple yet spectacular with all a driver needs for any race track or wide open road.
An old school dashboard with just the basics upfront and a whole load of flicks and switches next to the gear stick make the car a great addition to any budding garage.
The pedigree racing vehicle will be up for auction at the Sywell Aerodrome in Northampton, England on May 18.
The price is set to be £160,000 as a minimum but hopeful expectations say it could fetch beyond £180,000.
It first appeared on Iconic Auctioneers listed as a race-winning BMW “Batmobile” with a famous former owner.
Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay was once the lucky owner of the monstrous drive after snapping it up in 2013.
The singer claims he poured “a lot of money” into the motor, according to the auction house.
Jay even toured the car around iconic British Formula One circuit Silverstone.
The listing reads: “Offering access into some of the best historic motorsport in the world, including the legendary Le Mans Classic, this fabulous race car is being offered at a seriously tempting guide price when you consider what it would cost to replicate, the asking price for similar cars, and its proven 35 years-plus race record.
“The 3.0 CS has become an extremely rare BMW collectible, with Batmobiles often selling for over six figures.”
After being first built in the 70s, it wasn’t until the 1980s when the standard road car became a track star.
Saloon racer Tim Busby transformed the beauty into a proper race car and made it fit with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) specifications of a competing four-wheel drive.
Over the following 35 years, it was taken around the globe to take part in major meet ups – even coming out victorious in many events.
The global racing continued until 2004 when the 3.5-litre motor was sold to Iconic Auctioneers owner Nick Whale and auto enthusiast Ian Guest.
They worked on the car and again revolutionised it into an endurance beast racing around Patrick Peter’s Classic Endurance Racing series in Europe.
But the highlight of the car’s life lays with its tremendous results at the Le Mans Classic in both 2004 and 2006.
There, the Batmobile won the “Plateau” honour both times.
It also received the coveted Index of Performance award at the 2006 event and scored wins at Monza, Silverstone, and Spa in races.
Before it was sold to Masters Series racer Alan Tice, who raced it for a trio of seasons.
Jay Kay was next up to own it before he gave it up in 2017 as it embarked on another return to the European racing scene.
A reported hundred of thousands was pumped into the car to get it into fighting shape as it regained its FIA papers.
The car was invited to a recent Le Mans Classic but couldn’t attend due to the owner’s prior commitments.
He lives in South America and has said his unfortunate location around a lack of racing venues is the reason for him selling the car.
Previously, a classic 70s BMW owned by Jay Kay was put up for sale.
The BMW 2002 turbo has covered around 65,000 miles and is advertised for £99,500 with specialist dealer Munich Legends.
Last year, he was also selling his rare, vintage Bentley at an auction after failing to find a buyer in a private sale.
The lucky driver bagged themselves a bargain by snapping up the 1958 S1 Continental Drophead Coupé convertible on the cheap after filing to meet the £1million asking price.
