BMW to sell off its heritage
BMW will auction off a large number of rare motorcycles in Munich on October 1, including its first motorcycle, the R 32, expected to fetch $130,000-plusIf you're a relatively well-off classic vehicle collector, or are perhaps just looking for a classic BMW motorcycle to work on over the summer (and have solid connections in Germany), you might want to mark October 1, 2011, in your calendar.
Well-respected auction house Bonhams will be setting up shop at the BMW Museum to for an exclusive single marque auction, where some of the BMW's rarest and most sought after vehicles will be up for grabs to highest bidders.
Chief among the lots up for auction are 23 BMW motorcycles, including the R 32, the first production BMW motorcycle ever made (pictured, white tyres). Originally displayed at the Berlin motor show in 1923, the R 32 is expected to attract the big bucks, around €100,000 ($133,000) if a 2009 auction held at the same venue in Munich is anything to go by.
"That was a fantastic auction with the R 32 reaching a record price and many others very good figures. We are looking forward to this BMW auction with a deal of excitement," said Ben Walker, Bonhams motorcycle representative.
He added there is also likely to be interest from Australian collectors: "There are many beautiful examples up for auction and we are sure they will attract attention from around the world, including from Australia," added Walker.
Other models up for sale include a 1926 R 42 and 1927 R 47 motorcycles, both of which have been "beautifully restored" and are "extremely sort after" according to Bonhams.
Collectors will also be bidding for a 1936 R 35 single, a 1928 R 62, a 1939 R 66, plus a a very rare 1936 R 17. Built in 1953, the R 68 should gain plenty of bids as the first production BMW motorcycle to crack the 100mph (160km/h) mark.
Between 1954 and 1974 BMW dominated the World Sidecar Championships and one of the bikes going under the hammer is well maintained 1970 ex Georg Averbacher 500cc Rennsport machine (pictured).
There will also be a few newer motorcycles appearing at the auction in Munich, such as the one-off Egli-BMW K 1100 RS from 1994. The bike was custom made for a German dealer by Swiss frame maestro and engineer Fritz Egli.
For more details check out Bonhams.com.
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