BMW R68 ISDT Tribute Gelandesport Racer
BMW R68 ISDT Tribute Gelandesport Racer
The culmination of a 30 year labor of love, this limited edition 1952 R68 was restored to 1952 ISDT Geländesport specifications (with a few Rennsport twists) by the current owner, with Chris and Barbara Betjemann of Barrington Motor Works responsible for the mechanical and visual details. It made its debut in 2005 at the 12th Annual European Motorcycle Day “Larz Anderson Classic,” Brookline, Massachusetts, winning Best of Show and the Participants’ Choice Award.
It is fitted with correct original, period accessories, such as the 2-into-1 ISDT exhaust system, extra capacity deep finned oil pan, Hoske racing tank and Hoske Rennsport brakes and front and rear wheel hubs, as well as large VDO headlight insert tachometer, handlebar mounted VDO 120 MPH speedometer and Magura racing levers and throttle. Fabricated to ISDT specs is a hand formed all steel rear fender and license plate/taillight assembly, which mirrors the 1951 Paris Show prototype and other BMW racers of that era.
Rather than use fragile water transfer tank decals, the pinstriper who finished both fenders and tank rendered the tank emblems in gold leaf, and painted the roundels by hand.
The original 35 HP motor was completely rebuilt and has a rebuilt crankshaft by noted BMW specialist Ed Korn, and is fitted with BMW specific SS FF 27A flange bodied Dell’Orto carburetors and megaphones. The transmission case has been configured to Rennsport specifications with removal of the air cleaner casting, but still retains the unique “hand shift lever” (useful for quickly finding neutral without having to kick through the gears). Affixed to top of the transmission is a vintage German language St. Christopher’s medal depicting the Patron Saint of Travelers and images of a motorcycle, car, train, and bus.
Period correct oval racing number plates, period correct 19 inch Metzeler trials tires, and a brass dealer tag (Friedrich Haab, Heidelberg) serve to complete the image of this one-of-a-kind 1952 R68, BMW’s first 100 mile per hour production roadster.
BMW Mobile Tradition in Munichconfirmed 650681 as the correct engine and frame numbers and certified that this R68 was first delivered new on December 19, 1952 to Zeiss & Schwärzel, a BMW dealer in Mannheim, Germany.
Only 1,453 of the R68 were built, making this the rarest of all the postwar twins; today, very few remain, and of these only a handful can be found in ISDT configuration.
Since restoration it has been run for less than 30 miles, primarily at closed circuit events and vintage BMW displays and rallies.
Along with the first date of delivery and first purchaser’s name and address having been researched and provided by BMW Mobile Tradition, it comes with a certified New Hampshire Title and recentNew Hampshireregistration, as well as other period literature, photographs, and Barrington Motor Works invoices, receipts and work orders.
It is part of the collection of Roland Slabon, former editor of the Vintage BMW Bulletin, honored by BMW as “BMW Friend of the Marque” and author of several books on the BMW.
