One of BMW’s Top Driver’s Cars Is Giving New Life to a 1970s LegendGear PatrolgvandykeUpdatedThu, September 24, 2026 at 5:20 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleA fresh Italian take on the M2 will see the automaker's iconic "Batmobile" hit the road with new spirit.If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn moreWhile the world of restomodded classics only grows increasingly oversaturated, backdating projects are comparatively harder to find.It's often a more difficult direction to take. Modern proportions usually don't translate to (or allow for) the same old-school cool.Riverti recently previewed its M2-based project at the Tutto Benne hill climb. - Credit: Riverti AutomobiliEven so, that hasn't stopped Italian coachbuilder Riverti Automobili from chasing one of BMW's recognizable silhouettes of the 1970s.An Italian M2 translationI'm talking about the 1973 3.0 CSL. Riverti Automobili has teased some striking images of a vehicle that bears a strong resemblance to the "Batmobile" touring car legend.View this post on InstagramHowever, rather than overhauling a classic or building a clone, the outfit has instead used an M2 as the foundation. If you look closely, you can see the lines show through towards the rear of the car.AdvertisementAdvertisementStill, based on the provided images, it appears to be a pretty compelling take. The quad headlamps and shark nose are immediately recognizable CSL cues.The hark nose and lights give the M2 some real old-school cool. - Credit: Riverti AutomobiliIt's certainly a more ambitious effort than BMW's own 3.0 CSL tribute from 2023. Even with the dual rear spoilers, chrome trim and an M livery, it didn't capture the same lines because of its M4 underpinnings.Comparisons aside, though, it does stand to car that brings the driver focus to back up its motorsport-grade digs.The lines are obviously different towards the rear, but the pair of spoilers is on point. - Credit: Riverti AutomobiliIn base form, the current M2 carries a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6-cylinder producing 473 horsepower. It offers a 6-speed manual as standard and a rear-wheel-drive chassis with a multilink suspension at all four corners, and the up-spec CS version pushes things even further.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhat exactly Riverti has hidden underneath the sheet metal is to be determined, but even with factory numbers, a cosmetic-only treatment wouldn't be lacking in performance.How the front bumper takes shape will be the real test for this CSL reimagining. - Credit: Riverti AutomobiliMore to comePrice, production numbers and a formal reveal date all remain unannounced, though the appearance of a functional prototype at the Tutto Benne hillclimb does ground Riverti's project in reality.Only time will tell the effort ultimately takes shape, but it stands to be something different from the usual mix of restomod treatments.Riverti Automobili BMW M2 CSL Homage Learn More About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he's not chasing the latest industry news, he's probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.AdvertisementAdvertisementWant to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.
