Theo Terwel is a 'friend of the house'. From Vorden, he beautifies the world with perfectly restored BMW two-valves. We mainly say 'abroad', because we Dutch have the idea that perfection should also be pleasantly affordable. Once, just in the Netherlands, he put a motor on MP. One of the reactions was: "You have to be a totally unscrupulous bastard to dare to charge so much for a motorcycle." So everyone has their own vision. The engine was of course sold. Abroad. And then we come to the prize story. The story why so many of 'our' classics go abroad. At least: the absolute masterpieces.
A happy person. And a perfectionist
Theo is a man with cheerfully shining eyes and a genuine pleasure in the work he does. And for a pure techie, he is extremely communicative. He reports with a smile about himself: “Sometimes I dare to ask for brave prizes.”
This brings us to the BMW R80 G/S Paris-Dakar from 1988
The BMW with the corresponding numbers 6288357. Theo thought that machine was in very good condition, the best thing being that the twin had remained completely original. After Theo's magic hands, the BMW was, according to everyone, in absolute concours condition. And when a bunch of BMW fanatics give an engine that blessing, then us mere mortals only fit appropriate silence and respect.
When the BMW went up for sale last year, Theo had outdone himself in bravery. Almost giggling, he said at the time that he had offered the BMW for € 24.000. Not as an asking price, but very bluntly as a price. Within a week he had lost the fat forest toad.
And recently the satisfied buyer contacted him. For information
The Dakar was a bit too clumsy for him. And he couldn't really put his knees on it. He hadn't driven it much more than a lap around the church. The BMW would go under the hammer at Bonhams on October 9. A year after it was sold for €24.000. We'll add the link shortly. But we immediately give the bang of a spoiler. At Bonhams, the somewhat boulemische Paris-Dakar was hammered for … € 46.000. A very satisfied Theo happily concluded that the world had gone mad and that in future he would call himself Theo's bargain hall.
With that very thick tank, the BMW was no longer the slender off-roader it was for a long time
This copy, dated 1988, must have been one of the last. In fact, the end date for these engines was 1987. A little known option for driving GS or G/S is the R65 G/S. Many of those machines became official. They were bought by various armies. A Dieren motorcycle dump shop bought a whole lot of ex-Danish R65 G/Ssen. They had been used to teach conscripts to drive off-road.
Some specimens clearly showed that learning was not always without its ups and downs. But the thing was, those machines never got past their third gear. And those first three gears had always been tough. And the two pallets with separate gearboxes that Gerrit Kranenberg received with his 'lot'? They were also all limp or nauseous. By the way, Gerrit had stronger rear subframes made for GSs. Because even BMW's can still be improved.
But in fact that is no problem with a BMW boxer
The bins are easy to remove and install. Reconditioning is not expensive. In addition, BMW's construction kit system guarantees a wide choice of used containers. The knowledge that his citizen wanted to sell R65 G/S did not sell him in the end. A BMW + a low price = apparently an influx of people who want to mutilate their bargain RECOVERY: customizing. He is now quietly waiting for his little boxer to also heeeel becomes worth a lot. In the meantime, he just enjoys it. He will not become rich with Henri. Because the top prices only apply to absolutely spotless toppers for people with really too much money. The story was either too good or too crazy to pass up.
What is cheap? A subscription to AMK!
But we at AMK cherish the reality and also have the stories about how affordable and fun classic driving can be. And that starts between 2 and 500 grand. But from XNUMX euros. You can read all about that if you do yourself and us the pleasure of getting such a dirt cheap subscription to Auto Motor Klassiek to take. We don't think we'll ever make so much money that we could buy an old BMW for $46.000. And we're just happy and content with what we have. Except when it comes to subscribers. Because with subscriptions we do fundraising in our own modest way.
The photos are from Bonham's site.
€46.000 for such a GS. Sorry, but this isn't really about anything anymore. It will be a bit of 'what the hell will give', with absolutely nothing haggling about the beautiful 'Paris Dakar'.
The world has gone mad. But we still have good weather!