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Robert Downey Jr’s custom 1974 BMW 3.0 CS is certainly unique

Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. has made millions at the box office by playing an eccentric superhero who wears a custom mechanised suit to battle bad guys.


So it makes sense the actor's real-life ride would be suitably tailor-made and unique.

For his latest automotive purchase, Downey Jr. enlisted Wisconsin-based custom car builder SpeedKore to lend some X-factor to a 1974 BMW 3.0 CS – and the design brief was reportedly to blend modern materials with classic Euro styling.

 

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Utilising the car's original metal body, SpeedKore added plenty of carbon fibre – including a carbon-fibre front air dam, bumper and rocker mouldings – plus gun-metal forged HRE wheels with Pirelli P Zero tyres and Brembo brakes (with six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers).

The paint job – a muted shade of brick-red that calls to mind the Iron Man suit – is also custom, as are the many grey woodgrain accents throughout, including a unique custom rear spoiler and beltline.

 

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While the car's exterior certainly nails the "modern materials" half of the brief, the interior is where you truly get a sense of the car's European heritage – but with a twist.

SpeedKore created an Italian-inspired cockpit boasting chocolate-hued leather with grey pebble weave inserts, plus a classic-looking instrument cluster and a hidden touchscreen to preserve the car's classic roots.

 

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The car's Nardi steering wheel and dashboard feature the same grey woodgrain as the exterior.

Even the car's rear seat and boot have plenty of character – with the back row replaced by a custom packing shelf with matching luggage set, while the boot contains a leather-wrapped YETI-brand cooler.

 

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While details on the car's powertrain and outputs are scant, it's powered by the same 2.5-litre, six-cylinder engine found in an E34 BMW M5, mated to a four-speed automatic gearbox.

SpeedKore tends to work predominantly with American muscle cars and this BMW gig marked their first-ever German resto-mod project.

 

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SpeedKore has previously partnered with Downey Jr on other projects, building both a 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 and a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro for the actor, whose net worth is estimated to be around USD$300 million.

“The great part about working with Downey is he actively participates in the styling of the vehicle and the final product reflects his unique style through and through,” SpeedKore vice president Dave Salvaggio told Top Gear.

Susannah Guthrie

Susannah Guthrie has been a journalist for over a decade, covering everything from world news to fashion, entertainment, health and now cars. Having previously worked across titles like The New Daily, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, People Magazine and Cosmopolitan, Susannah now relishes testing family cars with the help of her husband and two-year-old son.

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