RM Sotheby’s is delighted to announce the incredible Bavarian Legends Collection, offered entirely without reserve, which forms a centerpiece of RM Sotheby’s inaugural Munich auction to be held on 26 November. The collection spans a remarkable selection of vehicles from throughout BMW’s 106-year history.
- The Bavarian Legends Collection comprises 32 cars and motorcycles from the BMW marque and boasts some of the most desirable models to emerge from the German manufacturer
- The collection is offered without reserve and will form a key feature in the upcoming Munich auction on 26 November
- The collection includes models from Mini and Rolls-Royce, completing the BMW brand experience
- Highlight lots include a 1958 BMW 507 Roadster Series II, a 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’, and a 1980 BMW M1 built in a unique colour combination for BMW Motorsport chief Jochen Neerpasch
- The cars on offer span nearly all eras of BMW, offering something for every enthusiast of the fabled Munich marque
- Further information can be found at rmsothebys.com
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. Finished in cream over a red leather interior, the 507 was BMW’s flagship in the late 1950s and will undoubtedly attract huge interest from collectors today (Estimate: €1,600,000 – €2,000,000).
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. Designed for both competition and for road use, the M1’s supreme engineering and powerful 3.5-litre straight-six engine allowed the car to create a lasting motorsport legacy and revered reputation. 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 (Estimate: €575,000 – €725,000).
Marcus Görig, Car Specialist, Germany, says: “I am delighted that RM Sotheby’s has been entrusted with the sale of this significant private BMW collection. Being able to sell such an incredible variety of BMWs at a single auction, all without reserve, and in the hometown of BMW Group in Munich, makes this a very special match. This collection continues to underline our reptation as the auction house for large, single-owner collections.”
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. The lovely example on offer is presented in two-tone grey over white with a red leather interior (Estimate: €150,000 – €200,000).
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 (Estimate: €180,000 – €220,000).
Elsewhere in the collection, there is a series of three consecutive generations of BMW M3s, including an E30-generation 1989 BMW M3 (Estimate: €45,000 – €65,000), an E36-generation 1997 BMW M3 (Estimate: €20,000 – €40,000), and an E46-generation 2003 BMW M3 CSL (Estimate: €30,000 – €50,000), all of which are offered with low miles. 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 (Estimate: €110,000 – €140,000). The collection continues to offer some exceptional examples of some of BMW’s most interesting models and also features a 1999 BMW Z8, a car that has never been road registered, and which has covered only 105 kilometres. This is arguably as close as one will ever get to an as-new example of BMW’s V-8 powered ‘90s super-roadster (Estimate: €130,000 – €200,000).
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 (Estimate: €30,000 – €40,000), 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 (Estimate: €350,000 – €500,000). Find the full collection here.
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