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LOT 547

1956 BMW 494cc R50 Registration no. 872 JMT Frame no. 555288 Engine no. 555288 (re-stamped)

Sold for £5,520 inc. premium
Lot 547

1956 BMW 494cc R50
Registration no. 872 JMT Frame no. 555288 Engine no. 555288 (re-stamped)

1956 BMW 494cc R50
Registration no. 872 JMT
Frame no. 555288
Engine no. 555288 (re-stamped)

In the early 1950s, BMW concentrated on refining what were essentially pre-war designs, but by 1955 was ready with a brace of new machines, the R50 and R69. Of 500cc and 600cc respectively, the newcomers inherited the up-dated flat-twin engine introduced on the R51/3 a few years previously, but deployed this in all-new cycle parts, the most notable departures from preceding practice being the Earles-type leading-link front fork and swinging-arm rear suspension enclosing the drive-shaft in the right leg - developments first seen on the works racers. Luxury tourers, the R50 and R69 sold to discerning enthusiasts to whom expense mattered little when set against the excellence of BMW engineering.

This BMW R50 was manufactured on 7th February 1956 and delivered to AFN (the UK importer) on 18th May 1956. The current vendor purchased the machine from marque specialist Bob Porecha in 2012. The sales receipt is on file and the BMW also comes with an old-style continuation logbook (issued 1965), sundry invoices, DVLA correspondence, some MoTs (most recent expired March 2015), a repair manual (copy), and a V5C Registration Certificate.

Footnotes

As with all Lots in the Sale, this Lot is sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.

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  • 28 April 2001, 09:00 - 17:00 BST
  • 27 April 2019, 09:00 - 18:00 BST

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