1948 Veritas RS
- Engine
- 2.0L inline-six sourced from BMW 328, modified by Ernst Loof
- Colour
- Belgian national yellow
A 1948 Veritas RS (chassis 5042) constructed on a pre-war BMW 315/1 platform and powered by a BMW 328 inline-six engine tuned by Ernst Loof. Delivered new to Belgian racer and Veritas distributor Johnny Claes, the car competed in European events before passing to American privateer John Biehl, who raced it on the West Coast SCCA circuit in the early 1950s. Subsequent California-based ownership kept the car largely untouched until a comprehensive nut-and-bolt restoration was completed in Germany in November 1993, after which it contested the Mille Miglia and Silvretta Classic. Both the restored body and the original period bodywork accompany the car.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €432,500 (≈ $476K)
- 1948 → 1951Factory deliveryJohnny Claespartial documentation
Belgian racing driver and Veritas distributor, co-founder of Équipe National Belge. Car was finished in Belgian national yellow and used actively in competition.
- 1951 →Private saleMarcel Balsapartial documentation
BMW specialist based in Paris who acquired the car from Claes and subsequently sold it to an American buyer.
- 1986 →Acquisition unknownWalter Jewelpartial documentation
Veritas Club member who acquired the car from storage and removed the Siata 8V engine; sold it on without undertaking restoration work.
- 1991 →Private saleDieter Aumannfull documentation
German collector who transported the car back to Germany and carried out a comprehensive ground-up restoration completed in November 1993, including commissioning a replica body to preserve the original. Held the car as part of a three-vehicle Veritas collection and used it in historic events.
- Date unknownPrivate saleJohn Biehlpartial documentation
American racing driver on a European tour with his wife; used the car on the European racing circuit before shipping it to the USA in 1952. Period race reports and photographs document his competition activities.
- Date unknownPrivate saleWalter 'Watsie' Roachpartial documentation
Competed in SCCA events in California; fitted a Siata 8V engine before the 1957 Palm Springs race, after which the car was stored in his La Jolla garage for roughly three decades.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownIntermediate owner (first)none documentation
One of two unidentified owners through whose hands the car passed between Jewel and Aumann, left untouched.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownIntermediate owner (second)none documentation
Second of two unidentified owners between Jewel and Aumann; car remained in unrestored storage condition throughout.
Competition
- 19481948 12 Hours of ParisDriver: Johnny Claes8th overall, 4th in class
Claes co-drove with Emilie Cornet; car ran under race number 28.
- 1949Formula 2Grand Prix de Brussels Formula 2 raceDriver: Johnny Claes
Solo drive by Claes; no finishing position recorded in the prose.
- 1953-03-22Palm Springs raceDriver: John Biehl
Documented by a contemporary race report; specific finish position not stated.
- 1953-11-01SCCASCCA National MarchDriver: John Biehl
Period photographs of the car on track and in the pits are held in the history file.
- 1954Palm Springs raceDriver: John Biehl
Final competitive outing for Biehl; car carried race number 171.
- 1956SCCASCCA California eventsDriver: Walter 'Watsie' Roach
One of two consecutive seasons of Californian SCCA competition under Roach's ownership.
- 1957SCCASCCA California eventsDriver: Walter 'Watsie' Roach
Second season of Roach's SCCA entries; includes the Palm Springs National where a Siata 8V engine had been installed.
- 1957SCCASCCA National Palm SpringsDriver: Walter 'Watsie' Roach
Final race for the chassis; ran under number 62, which remains on the original bodywork to this day.
- 19941994 Mille MigliaDriver: Dieter Aumann
First historic outing after the nut-and-bolt restoration was completed in late 1993.
- 2006Silvretta ClassicDriver: Dieter Aumann
Alpine historic motoring event; second recorded post-restoration competition appearance by Aumann.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1957Modification
A Siata 8V engine was installed to replace the original BMW-based unit prior to the 1957 Palm Springs SCCA National race.
Work carried out by or under the direction of Walter Roach.
- 1986Mechanical
The Siata 8V engine was removed from the car after acquisition by Walter Jewel.
- 1993Restoration
Comprehensive nut-and-bolt restoration carried out after the car's return to Germany. The original bodywork was removed and preserved, and an identical replacement body was fabricated. Restoration completed to a high standard with the intention of returning the car to historic competition.
Commissioned by Dieter Aumann; a photographic album documenting the pre-restoration condition is included in the history file.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.