Description
This motorcycle is Lot 125 - To be auctioned by Bonhams at The Spring Stafford Sale (The International Classic MotorCycle Show) on 26th & 27th April, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Auction Timings:
Lots 1 - 147 are to be sold from 14:00 on Saturday 26th April 2025.
Lots 201 - 410 are to be sold from 11:00 on Sunday 27th April 2025.
Public Viewing:
Available 26th & 27th April 2025 from 09:00 until 17:00, at The Stafford County Showground (The International Classic MotorCycle Show).
Lot 125
The Dale Winfield Motorcycle Collection
1958 BMW 494cc R50
Registration no. JDZ 6289
Frame no. 557732
Engine no. 557732
In the early 1950s, BMW concentrated on refining what were essentially pre-war designs, but by 1955 was ready with a brace of new machines: the R50 and R69. Of 494cc and 594cc respectively, the newcomers inherited the updated flat-twin engine introduced on the R51/ 3 a few years previously, but deployed this in all-new cycle parts, the most notable departures from preceding practice being the Earles-type leading-link front fork and swinging-arm rear suspension enclosing the driveshaft in the right leg - developments first seen on the works racers. Luxury tourers, the R50 and R69 sold to discerning enthusiasts to whom expense mattered little when set against the excellence of BMW engineering.
An older restoration that would benefit from detailing, this R50 currently displays a total of 95, 596 miles on the odometer. The machine comes with an V5C listing its date of first registration in the UK as 20 May 1983, expired Northern Ireland MoT certificate for 1990 and a photocopy VLCO registration document listing it as previously registered in Great Britain as '944 BKT' (first registered in February 1958). The HPI printout lists the date of first registration in the UK as 11th May 1977. Also on file is an auction purchase note (Lot 65A) listing various documents and items, none of which is now present. Following a period of inactivity, this motorcycle will require recommissioning or possibly more extensive restoration before returning to the road and thus is sold strictly as viewed. No headlamp key present.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams Motorcycles website for all pertinent auction information.
