Rare Bmw Stars At Pebble Beach

RARE BMW STARS AT PEBBLE BEACH

The prototype that barely survived

CARS WEREN’T THE ONLY STARS AT the 62nd Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, California, as a collection of 13 pre-1968 German motorcycles made up Class X.

Best of Class went to the prototype 1934 BMW R7 belonging to the Munich-based company. The motorcycle never went into production, remaining hidden from sight and dismantled in boxes at the factory for nearly 70 years. In 2005, a two-year restoration began with BMW devoting the efforts of inhouse master restorers Annin Frey and Hans Keckeisen to the project.

“I was fortunate to manage this restoration project, which bene fitted greatly from the expertise at BMW,” said Klaus Kutscher of the BMW Classic Group. “To win at the Pebble Beach Concurs is wonderful, especially since this is our first time here.”

Another significant machine on display was the 1885 Daimler Reitwagen, credited with being not only the firstever motorcycle but also the earliest internal-combustion vehicle ever made. It was the first time the Reitwagen had ever left the Mercedes museum in Stuttgart. Unfortunately, the hot-tube ignition (pre-sparkplug) engine failed to start, taking it out of Class X contention.

—Bob Stokstad