A historic racing boat and arguably one of the prettiest machines ever to contain a BMW engine is on the auction block.
We all know that BMW engines powered airplanes, motorcycles, and cars. Early in its history BMW even built motors for tractors that were considered quite sporty, being able to reach speeds up to 10 kilometers per hour, but that’s a story for another time. Around 1921, BMW engines were also being made for boats, foreshadowing a use for BMW motors in the lean days following the Second World War.
In the late 1940s, motor racing in Europe was slowly recovering. The famous Mille Miglia in Italy was restarted in 1947. Only three Formula One races were held in 1946, four in 1947, and it wasn’t until 1950 that the reorganized FIA could put together a seven-race world championship schedule, and one of those races was the Indianapolis 500.
In 1946, to meet the demand for cars and engines needed by private race teams, some former BMW managers and racers established the BMW Veritas company. BMW Veritas used re-worked, pre-war BMW motors to put in their cars as well as sell to customers. At BMW’s insistence, the BMW Veritas name was changed after a short time to just Veritas because BMW didn't want their name on a company that didn't belong to them. It seems some things never change.
It was during this time that powerboat racing in Germany set sail, so to speak. Enter Kurt Hersch, who had designed fast patrol boats during the Second World War and started a private boat-building business in 1946. His successes helped make the BMW-powered Berlin boats famous. In 1953 he won the Ribband Trophy on Lake Starnberg driving a Berlin III, and in 1956 he won the World Championship in Cannes behind the wheel of a Berlin IV.
On March 16, 2014, the French auction house Fontainebleu Osenat will offer a gorgeous 1950 “Berlin lll” E2 Class race boat, powered by BMW. This boat was designed by Max Steaves and built by Bootsbau Gersch, Weisbaden, for racing driver Jürgen Baginski. The hull is made of laminated timber over cedar frames and timbers, with a paint finish and polished laminated timber decks. The engine is covered with a molded cowling. Look closely at the engine cover to see the iconic split grill that tells the world a BMW engine is under the hood. The two-seat cockpit has left hand wheel steering with a hand gear shift, and a veneered dashboard with gauges, stopwatch, and speedometer.
The motor is a BMW Veritas double overhead camshaft alloy engine of six cylinders and just under two-liters displacement. Originally meant for a BMW 321 automobile, it was rebuilt to BMW 328 specifications with triple carburetors and a V-head.
The hull and engine were restored between 2006 and 2010 and have since been well maintained. The auction house speculates that this Berlin III may be the earliest surviving BMW-powered post-war racing boat. The estimated auction price is between approximately $180,000 and $222,000.
To view the auction catalog page or to place a bid, click here. Good luck. Hope you win.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of Fontainebleu Osenat and Bonhams.]
