1937 Veritas RS
- Engine
- Bristol engine with matching transmission (replacement for original BMW 328 unit)
A Veritas RS built on BMW 328 chassis no. 85123, originally delivered new to Luxembourg BMW dealer Chany Wagner in 1937, this car is a rare survivor of early post-war German racing car construction. It competed in the 1951 Eifel race as the 'Wagner Spezial BMW', was later brought to Veritas for RS conversion — a process left incomplete when the company folded — and subsequently found its way to France. Rediscovered in poor condition in 1978, it was eventually fully restored in the late 1990s to Veritas RS specification at a cost of nearly £100,000 and has since enjoyed an active historic racing career.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate €450,000 – €550,000
- 1937-09-01 →Factory deliveryChany Wagnerpartial documentation
BMW dealer based in Luxembourg; the underlying BMW 328 chassis was delivered new to this owner and first registered in their name.
- 1978 →Private saleJürgen Sinkelpartial documentation
Well-regarded historic racer based near Düsseldorf who discovered the car in poor condition in southern France; replaced the Talbot engine and French gearbox with Bristol running gear.
- 1995 → 2000Private saleClaas Wernerpartial documentation
German enthusiast who commissioned the full restoration at TT Workshops beginning October 1995 and completed spring 1998 at a cost approaching £100,000; used the car sparingly in historic events before selling.
- 2000 →Private saleCurrent ownerpartial documentation
Used the car extensively in historic motorsport; invested around CHF 140,000 in maintenance and race preparation with Graber Sportgarage AG in Toffen, Switzerland.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownFrench Veritas employeenone documentation
Believed to have received the incomplete car as compensation for unpaid wages when the manufacturer ceased operations; the car was bodied with improvised coachwork during this period.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownFuad Majzubpartial documentation
Noted Anglo-Iranian collector; the car was kept in Düsseldorf through at least 1990 during his ownership, after which it was sent to TT Workshops in Wiltshire for a full restoration.
Competition
- 1951Eifel raceDriver: Honoré Wagner5th
Car entered under the name 'Wagner Spezial BMW' wearing race number 18.
- 20082008 Monaco Grand Prix Historique
Entered by the current owner as part of their active historic racing programme.
- 20082008 Angoulême Circuit des Remparts
Participated in the same year as the Monaco Historique, during the current owner's tenure.
- 20122012 Eifel Rennen
Part of the current owner's ongoing historic competition programme.
- —Eifel KlassikDriver: Claas Werner
One of the few events at which the car was used during Werner's ownership period.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1978Mechanical
Talbot engine and French Cotal gearbox removed and replaced with a Bristol engine and matching transmission.
Work carried out by or at the direction of Jürgen Sinkel after he acquired the car in southern France.
- 1995RestorationTT Workshops
Full restoration commenced including faithful recreation of Veritas RS coachwork; completed spring 1998 at a total cost of nearly £100,000.
Specialist BMW and Bristol restorer based in Westbury, Wiltshire; work commissioned by Claas Werner.
- —ModificationVeritas
Car brought to Veritas for conversion to RS specification; the process was started but left incomplete when the company went out of business.
- —Bodywork
After the incomplete Veritas conversion, improvised homemade bodywork was fitted before the car left for France.
- —ServiceGraber Sportgarage AG
Ongoing maintenance and race preparation totalling approximately CHF 140,000 carried out during the car's modern historic racing career.
Conducted by respected restoration and race preparation specialists based in Toffen, Switzerland.
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