BMW DIXI 1929 3/15 DA1 ORIGINAL UNRESTORED THE FIRST BMW CAR AUSTIN SEVEN 7

This amazing little car was dispatched to BMW Dealer Dressler in Dresden 31st October 1929. This date is significant as it was the very first year for a BMW car. so serious BMW collectors should certainly have the very first year production of a BMW car in their collection!

This car is believed to have been just one family owned and resided in the East of Germany near the Polish Border up until 2006 when it was bought by a fellow BMWHMC club member having been dry stored for a lot of years.

Structurally she is amazing. not really any proper rust. just a small amount on one seam on the r/h rear passenger floor pan. She has had some sort of repaint sometime in the last 85 years. not exactly to concours standard :o). but matches her character perfectly. indeed if you are looking for a shiny mint restoration. this isn't the car for you. if you want genuine 20's old world charm. then read on.

The car has never had a restoration. so remains in lovely patinated condition. Original 1920's chrome and badges. that normally have all been restored/replaced with reproduction items! 85 years old and still going strong!

Looking completely original inside with her rexine door panels. leather seats and even the headlining. which is still in great order. The original  steering wheel and dash instruments and switches all present and all work. The only replacement items are the leather door strap pulls and there is some non standard carpet. She has her pre war accessories of cut glass ash tray and flower vase fitted. Amazingly she even retains a very old dealers brass plaque on her bonnet and the original  Ambi Budd body manufacturers plaque on her r/h A panel.

She runs very well. I used her a lot during the later half of the last summer/autumn attending various shows. covering over 650kms with no issues. She was accepted for an entry in to the Automobile Magazines 'Oily Rag Run' very exclusive rally for unrestored cars. Even two up touring around Harrogate up and down those Yorkshire Dales she did amazingly well. 1st gear for some hills. but always made it to the top. So the engine is nice and strong.

Recent work has included the rims being refurbished and spokes tightened and then blasted and stove enamelled in a satin black to match the car and a new set of five 400 x 19 Excelsior Tyres and tubes fitted. Brake linings and friction dampers have been replaced.

All in all a great little car with bags of character. and super rare. you don't see many for sale.

 As an added bonus. as you can see from the pictures she fits inside a medium wheelbase Sprinter. so great for transporting distances. I will even include the folding ramps with the car if the purchaser requires them. There is a nice history file with the car. not any really early stuff. but details all the items bought over the last few years. plus original sales brochure. period wiring diagrams Dating Certificate. rally plaques etc etc. There are also some carburettor spares. other bits and bobs and some Austin Seven handbooks and manuals which are very useful and are all included. She is taxed until June 2014. on the button and ready to go.

If you would like any specific information please contact me.

Happy to assist with collection and can quote for delivery if required.

Dixi History

With the acquisition of Dixi in 1928. by 1929 BMW started selling the Austin Seven. which it renamed as 3/15 DA 1. The name 3/15 indicated the car had three speeds and produced 15 horsepower. The “DA” designation stood for "Deutsche Ausführung". meaning German Version. The first 100 cars were supplied as kits. but by January 1929 the first of the official BMW-manufactured vehicles. the Dixi 3/15 DA 1 was coming off the production line. The main differences between the Dixi 3/15 DA 1 and the contemporary Austin Seven were the addition of Bosch shock absorbers. Bosch electric. including distributor ets. 4 wheel brakes. a full bespoke steel body. (manufactured by Ambi Budd presswerk in Berlin). the placement of the driver's controls on the left side of the vehicle. the use of metric fasteners and an engine which was mirror image of the Austin Seven engine.   Body styles available were coupé. roadster. tourer. and sedan with a few chassis going to external coachbuilders. Most cars left the factory as tourers. The Dixi was the first car made by BMW

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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