AN ASTONISHING NO RESERVE COLLECTION OF SIGNIFICANT ROAD & COMPETITION CARS AND MOTORCYCLES
RM Sotheby’s recently announced the incredible Bavarian Legends Collection, offered entirely without reserve, which forms a centerpiece of RM Sotheby’s inaugural Munich auction to be held in November. The collection spans a remarkable selection of vehicles from throughout BMW’s 106-year history.
Highlight cars from the collection include the 1958 BMW 507 Roadster Series II, one of just 252 examples produced. The 507 is unquestionably one of BMWs finest creations and a model highly coveted by collectors, being one of the most flamboyant of BMW’s post-war designs and the epitome of a stylish 1950s roadster.
If the 507 was an avant-garde design in-period, the 1980 BMW M1 positively threw the BMW design rule book out of the window. Mid-engined and with stunning Giugiaro styling, the timeless design seems to have barely aged and represents BMW’s first genuine foray into the supercar market.
The car on offer was built for the head of BMW Motorsport, Jochen Neerpasch, and was finished in the unique colour combination of Grey over a Brown interior. It is a world-famous and exceptional road-going example in a stunning colour combination, and a car which was displayed on the world-famous concours lawns of the 2013 Villa d’Este Concours d’Elegance.
Among the pre-war BMWs on offer is a beautiful 1936 BMW 319/1 Roadster, a stunning and highly capable car, and the model which established BMW as a leading manufacturer of highly engineered, refined, and fast sports cars. The 319/1 really formed the basis upon which BMW developed the legendary 328 roadster, and today the 319 remains a highly regarded and very collectable pre-war sports car.
Fast forward to 1975 and the 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’ is another instantly recognisable sports car that represented the peak of BMW performance road cars in-period. The 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’ was the ultimate performance derivative of the 3.0 CSL, the lightweight aluminium-bodied variant of the standard 3.0 pillarless coupé. Today, this BMW remains an impressive performer on the road.
Also offered is a pre-production 1990 BMW 850 CSi that was first owned by BMW for testing purposes, providing fascinating provenance for marque enthusiasts. The car’s second owner was the BMW racing driver and Ayrton Senna’s teammate, Johnny Cecotto. Undeniably one of the most coveted E31 BMWs in existence and offered in the stylish colour of Drake Brown Metallic. The collection continues to offer some exceptional examples of some of BMW’s most interesting models and also features a 1999 BMW Z8.
The collection also features a selection of marques representing other areas of BMW’s business. This includes a highly desirable 1966 Austin Mini Cooper S Mk I, very much the original Mini to have, as well as a 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Owen Drophead Sedanca Coupé with Coachwork by Gurney Nutting, which is believed to be one of just 12 produced.
The full collection features a wide range of ‘M’ cars, competition derivatives, roadsters, pre-war models, and pre- and post-war motorcycles, all of which offers collectors a fascinating opportunity to acquire fine examples from across the entirety of BMW’s incredible history, beginning with a 1928 Dixi 3/15 DA-1 Open Tourer, the Austin 7 variant that was the genesis of BMW’s motor car manufacturing.
