1967 BMW 1600

BMW 1600, VIN: 1522827 was manufactured on April 17th, 1967 and delivered on May 11th, 1967 to the BMW importer Hoffman Motors Corp. in New York City. The original paint was/is (Schwartz) Black, paint code 086. After its arrival in NYC, 1522827 was delivered to German Motors in San Francisco, California and has remained in the greater Bay Area its entire life. To be clear, this vehicle has never been painted and retains its original black interior. The body is not without some dings and dents but there is little to no rust anywhere to be found.

When I purchased the vehicle, the original cylinder head had been removed and was sitting in the trunk. Careful inspection revealed that there were several poorly sealing exhaust valves and valve guide clearance problems. Subsequent to the necessary machine work, all valves, guides, seals, valve springs, rocker shafts and rockers were replaced. During reassembly, most of the original external parts were reused such as cooling hoses, clamps, plug wires and distributor cap in an effort to preserve the originality. The fuel tank was drained and flushed prior to initial startup.

The front brake calipers were rebuilt along with replacement of the brake rotors, pads, bearings and soft rubber lines. Similarly, the rear brake drums, shoes and wheel cylinders were changed out.

The failure-prone rear axle boots have been replaced with the more robust 2002 parts although a pair of ‘white/clear’ boots are included in the auction.

Many unusual and rarely seen early ‘bits’ have remained with the vehicle through the years: oil filter housing; 6V generator and ignition coil; blue tip antenna; radio; keys; positive battery cable; embossed front hood molding; 4-blade fan, etc. Note the plethora of date coded pieces including the wheels, radiator, seat tags, valve cover, etc. Message me for a link to additional pictures of the car.

The upper dash is cracked and a brand new 3-piece dash with chrome trim, from BMW, will be included. All windows are original with Sekurit markings while the front windshield bears the Sigla mark.

Tires on the car are ancient Sears bias ply examples - another indicator of the car’s originality. They are very old, circa 1970’s, and do hold air, but should not be driven on. Similarly, the sunroof works, but the rear seal has deteriorated. The passenger side window regulator will need to be replaced and a replacement is included.

Odometer currently shows 98,481 miles. The vehicle is licensed, tagged, insured and titled in my name.

The engine runs uncannily smooth, the transmission shifts as it should and the brakes work without incident. As such, this 1600 is a functioning, time-capsule, barn-find survivor. Its originality cannot be overstated.