THIS CAR

The car for sale here, chassis no.

51266, is 1 of only 16 RHD examples ever imported by AFN Ltd into the UK following their legendary partnership with BMW in 1934.

Of these original 16 cars, only around 8 are thought to survive.


Delivered to its first owner, Mr Matson Roberts, in 1935 with the registration BMX 77, not much is known about 51266’s early life.

Although this rather wonderful photo, courtesy of the Frazer Nash Archives, shows BMX 77 parked proudly outside the AFN showroom on Grovesner Street, London:


What’s more, a hand-written note in the car’s history file alludes to the possibility that BMX 77 was chosen by AFN to form part of their display at the 1935 London Motor Show.

And while we don’t have hard evidence for this, we do know that BMX 77 featured in some of AFN’s early marketing material:


The story of 51266 then somewhat dies down until May 1950, when we have a letter on file from AFN Ltd to C.

H.

Hill Esq of Berkshire, England:


We can presume ...