LOT 618 N
1928 BMW 500cc R57 Registration no. not registered Frame no. 27600 Engine no. 70085
Sold for £48,300 inc. premium
Lot 618N
1928 BMW 500cc R57Registration no. not registered Frame no. 27600 Engine no. 70085
1928 BMW 500cc R57
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. 27600
Engine no. 70085
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. 27600
Engine no. 70085
• One of only 1,012 made
• Purchased circa 25 years ago
• Described by the vendor as largely original and in working order
Following the collapse of its aero engine business after WWI, BMW turned to other areas of manufacture, motorcycles among them. Its first two models, marketed as the Frink and Helios respectively, were failures, but a successful proprietary engine was supplied to other manufacturers. Launched in 1923, the first motorcycle to be sold as a BMW - the R32 - featured a 493cc, twin-cylinder, sidevalve engine having horizontally opposed cylinders, and this 'flat twin' layout would forever be associated with the marque. Setting a pattern that endures to this day, the first BMW motorcycle was relatively expensive but superbly engineered and constructed, while the quality of finish was of the highest order. BMW's first sports machine, the R37, appeared in 1924. The R37 boasted an overhead-valve engine producing almost double the R32's power output, and in tuned form proved good enough to take the German national championship in its debut year.
Before long BMW updated its original tourer, which in 1926 became the R42, gaining a redesigned and more powerful engine boasting detachable alloy cylinder heads and cooling fins set at 90 degrees to the cylinder axis. The engine was set further back in the duplex loop frame, which improved weight distribution and enabled straight front down-tubes to be used. The braking too came in for attention: the old block-and-pulley type rear brake being replaced by a drum on the driveshaft gripped by external contracting bands. In 1927 this same chassis was used for the new R47 sports roadster, which now featured cast-iron barrels in place of the R37's steel items.
For 1928 BMW reorganised its range of engines, which now included a brace of 750s: one sidevalve, the other overhead-valve. A stroke of 78mm was used for the sidevalves and 68mm for the OHVs regardless of capacity, with different cylinder bore sizes depending on the model. Thus, the new overhead-valve R57 sports bike's engine was a 'square' unit of 68x68mm bore/stroke. Electric lighting, hitherto regarded as an 'extra', was standardised throughout the roadster range. R57 production lasted for only three years and today this rare vintage BMW is among the marque's most desirable and sought-after machines of the period.
One of only 1,012 of its type manufactured, this rare BMW R57 dates from the first year of production. Purchased for the vendor's private collection some 25 years ago, it is described by the vendor as largely original and in working order, having been cared for by the owner's in-house mechanic. The machine is offered with Italian ASI homologation papers and a FIVA passport.
• Purchased circa 25 years ago
• Described by the vendor as largely original and in working order
Following the collapse of its aero engine business after WWI, BMW turned to other areas of manufacture, motorcycles among them. Its first two models, marketed as the Frink and Helios respectively, were failures, but a successful proprietary engine was supplied to other manufacturers. Launched in 1923, the first motorcycle to be sold as a BMW - the R32 - featured a 493cc, twin-cylinder, sidevalve engine having horizontally opposed cylinders, and this 'flat twin' layout would forever be associated with the marque. Setting a pattern that endures to this day, the first BMW motorcycle was relatively expensive but superbly engineered and constructed, while the quality of finish was of the highest order. BMW's first sports machine, the R37, appeared in 1924. The R37 boasted an overhead-valve engine producing almost double the R32's power output, and in tuned form proved good enough to take the German national championship in its debut year.
Before long BMW updated its original tourer, which in 1926 became the R42, gaining a redesigned and more powerful engine boasting detachable alloy cylinder heads and cooling fins set at 90 degrees to the cylinder axis. The engine was set further back in the duplex loop frame, which improved weight distribution and enabled straight front down-tubes to be used. The braking too came in for attention: the old block-and-pulley type rear brake being replaced by a drum on the driveshaft gripped by external contracting bands. In 1927 this same chassis was used for the new R47 sports roadster, which now featured cast-iron barrels in place of the R37's steel items.
For 1928 BMW reorganised its range of engines, which now included a brace of 750s: one sidevalve, the other overhead-valve. A stroke of 78mm was used for the sidevalves and 68mm for the OHVs regardless of capacity, with different cylinder bore sizes depending on the model. Thus, the new overhead-valve R57 sports bike's engine was a 'square' unit of 68x68mm bore/stroke. Electric lighting, hitherto regarded as an 'extra', was standardised throughout the roadster range. R57 production lasted for only three years and today this rare vintage BMW is among the marque's most desirable and sought-after machines of the period.
One of only 1,012 of its type manufactured, this rare BMW R57 dates from the first year of production. Purchased for the vendor's private collection some 25 years ago, it is described by the vendor as largely original and in working order, having been cared for by the owner's in-house mechanic. The machine is offered with Italian ASI homologation papers and a FIVA passport.
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.
Additional information
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Auction Viewings
- 28 April 2001, 09:00 - 17:00 BST
- 27 April 2019, 09:00 - 18:00 BST
Lot symbols
| N | NOVA declaration |
| If purchased by a UK resident, this machine is subject to a NOVA declaration, whilst the responsibility of submitting the NOVA rests with the Buyer to do so, Bonhams will facilitate the process by engaging an agent (SHIPPIO) to undertake the NOVA and C88 (customs) application if applicable on the Buyer's behalf. A fee of £350 + VAT to do so will be added to the Buyer's invoice. |
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