March Motor Works celebrates Mini and BMW Motorrad at Revival 2023

Having produced well over 2,000,000 bikes in its century of operation, BMW Motorrad is one of the most successful and long-loved two-wheeled marques around today.

Among some of the bikes on display here at the 2023 Goodwood Revival, is BMW’s first bike, the R32, which featured a flat-twin boxer engine. Next to it, the R17, R67 and R60/2. They sit in a display modelled on BMW Concessionaires Ltd, New Street, Brighton, from 1963, in celebration of what was then the marque’s 40^th anniversary. In those 40 years, speeds increased from the R32’s 55mph top end, to the 105mph of the 1963 R69S. Next door we see a selection of bikes, tools and more in a period-correct recreation of a BMW Motorrad workshop.

Outside we see a number of Mini Cooper S models displayed, alongside the Cooper Car Company Clubman van. Here we’re celebrating the introduction of the famous ’S’ Type, also in 1963. “Specially developed for use in trials, rallies and competition events for the enthusiast who requires something extra,” the ad reads. “BMC builds to win!”

Around the corner, a selection of BMW economy cars, pre-dating the Neue Klasse we were introduced to in the late 1960s that would give rise to the selection of executive models we know and love today. No, the 700 and Isetta were very much people’s cars, with the former being credited with saving the marque in the wake of the fallow post-war years.

Inside a recreation of coachbuilder James Young Ltd, a 1920s Rolls-Royce sits alongside a pair of interior artisans from Mike Thomas and Dave Strange Trimming. These perfectly-presented gents carry out projects for the likes of GTO engineering to Lanzante, but specialising in cars from the turn of the century, up to the 1960s. The project you can see in action? The seat trimming for a 1923 Bentley and NP Engineering’s Martini London to Brighton car, involving spring caging for the seats, as well as button punching and leather trimming.

Photography by Joe Harding.