1953 BMW R51/3, 490cc. Registration number KDM 328. Frame nu...

Hammer

£7,000

1953 BMW R51/3, 490cc. Registration number KDM 328. Frame number 525181. Engine number 525181.
BMW were faced with rebuilding an almost totally destroyed factory following the end of hostilities in 1945, were banned from building motorcycles, cars or aero engines by the Allies and were hampered by the scarcity of raw materials. Consequently their first postwar production vehicle, a bicycle, utilised the one material that was available in sufficient quantities, aluminium, extensively in its construction. As the allies relaxed their restrictions on what BMW were allowed to produce, the company introduced a single cylinder 250cc machine, the R24 in 1948 and followed it with an over head valve, horizontally opposed twin displacing 500cc in 1950, typed the R51/2. This machine was based on the pre war R51. The cycle parts were similar to the pre-war model and featured plunger rear suspension and telescopic front. The horizontally opposed twin cylinder over head valve engine displaced 494cc and produced 24bhp at 5,800. For 1952 a subtly revised model, typed the R51/3 was introduced. Detail changes made to the new model included revised gear ratios and a slight drop in compression ratio to 6.3:1, however, further modifications were made to the model the following season when new brake drums were adopted, these then being replaced for the 1954 season by full width items. During the three years that the R51/3 was available approximately 18,400 examples were built, selling for 2,750 DM. The R51/3 was BMW’s first true post-war motorcycle design, following the prewar-derived R51/2. Renowned then as now for its exceptional refinement and comfort, the R51/3 features twin plunger rear suspension, shaft drive, and a four-speed gearbox.
KDM has been owned by our deceased vendor for some 20 odd years. When purchased it had been unused for a long time and he got it up and running, using for touring all year round and often exhibiting at NECPWA events.
The V5C has recently been changed to his wife's name so there are only two former keepers.
Sold with the V5C, various rosettes and related paperwork, there is also a new set of exhaust pipes and silencers, stainless steel spokes and other spares. It should respond well to recommissioning.