1,988cc OHV Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
2 Solex Carburetors
Estimated 90bhp at 4,750rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

*Extremely rare post-war German coach-built sports car
*Elegant custom coachwork in aluminum
*BMW 327 powerplant
*Supplied with a comprehensive file of recent BMW Classic service

THE VERITAS SCORPION

Veritas-Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Sport und Rennwagenbau (Veritas-Joint Venture for the Construction of Sport and Racing Vehicles) was launched in March of 1947 in the village of Hausen am Andelsbach, near Hockenheim. Its principals were Ernst Loof, the former head of BMW's racing division when the BMW won the Mille Miglia in 1940; long-time sales manager Lorenz Dietrich; and former BMW motorcycle champion and pre-war Auto Union Grand Prix racing driver Georg "Schorsch" Meier. Their goal was to build a new sports and racing car to succeed the hugely-successful pre-war BMW 328. It was an idea they'd been discussing since meeting in Paris during WWII.

Their first prototype racer was built in a corner of BMW's Allach factory, which was being used for vehicle maintenance by the allies. Disallowed from building any sort of new car or engine in the American Zone of Occupation, the project moved to the French zone, and the team concentrated on what it knew best, the Type 328, with its unique overhead-valve six. Right from the start the Veritas Rennsport was competitive, winning the German 2-Litre sports car championship three years on the trot from 1947 to 1949..

Desirous of building a road car, Veritas introduced the Comet in 1949, followed by a two-seat convertible with the interesting name of Scorpion, and then the Saturn – a coupe with three-abreast seating. The Scorpion and Saturn were both built on a 2600mm wheelbase and featured fully-independent front suspension with upper and lower control arms, longitudinal torsion bars, and telescopic shock absorbers. The rear drive and suspension comprised a deDion axle with triangular links, longitudinal torsion bars, and telescopic shock absorbers. Steering was by rack-and-pinion. Brakes were four-wheel hydraulic drums. The engine was a BMW 328 of 1988 cc with overhead valves operated by a quite effective system of transverse rocker arms that gave the motor the appearance of having overhead cams. The five-speed transmission was of the company's own design.

Veritas contracted with Karosseriebau Spohn of Ravensburg to clothe these chassis. Spohn had built elegant auto bodies for such prestigious chassis as Bugatti, Steyr, Mercedes Benz, and Maybach through the 1920s and 1930s. However, compared to some of the coachwork that emerged from Spohn in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the Veritas Scorpion and Saturn would have to be described as mainstream and conservative.

After several reorganizations, Ernst Loof moved the remains of Veritas to the Nurbürgring and produced a small number of expensive cars of the same name, but funding had dried up for the perpetually-undercapitalized concern. By In 1953 the firm was absorbed by BMW, the company that had spawned it. Best estimates are that Veritas produced no more than 78 cars in all.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

An intriguing fusion of pre-war mechanical components and post-war style, the BMW-based Veritas model dates from the late 1940s, a period when the scarcity of readily available competition cars led to the creation of numerous interesting 'specials'. This Veritas Scorpion received a restoration in the early 1990's where it was finished in the beautiful blue exterior and tanned leather interior it is presented in today. More recently this motorcar was recommissioned by BMW Classic. With BMW Classic, the Scorpion received a sympathetic cosmetic restoration retaining as much of the originality from its 25-year-old restoration as possible. The body was repainted where necessary while the chrome, glass, and interior were kept intact and renewed to functional cosmetic standards.

BMW Classic sorted through the mechanical components of this Scorpion to bring it to road worthy condition, successfully registering and TÜF approving the car in December 2017. The car is equipped with a modern radiator, electric fans, and updated oil cooler, installed during previous ownership to accommodate regular road use.

Due to prevailing economic conditions forcing a continual lack of resources and organization with Veritas, BMW cannot date chassis 5095 to its delivery specifications and ownership history. This car is presented with updated German registration, invoices listing the work completed by BMW, and a thorough inspection report received April 2018. Today, this magnificent example of post-war German design and coachwork presents beautifully throughout, and would make a fine addition to any pre or post-war collection.