1933 ALM-4

[BillWilliams]

Stopped by Lothar's today and saw his 1933 BMW ALM-4. First car BMW designed AND built. However the body was built by Daimeler (sp?). Frank Greppo from upstate NY found the car for Lothar.

20BHP!!!

Lothar and Raine sporting that Ben Bernenke look!

[frank]

I am very happy that car ended up in good hands. I can't wait to see it when Lothar is finished with the restoration, if that is the plan.

[BillWilliams]

I believe it is in the que. He is working on his Baroque Angel now.

He says most of the missing parts, which are not many, will have to be produced or fabricated. I saw a horn ring he had made for his Angel amazing what talented people can do.

Cars that old just do not have many spare parts lying around.

I was surprised how small that car was but with 20 hp, it can not be that big

The 4 in ALM-4 means it has a four speed, the earlier ALM-3 had three speeds. He is real happy to have it and feels the auction benefited him in purchase price and transport distance. So it worked out.

He checked with BMW AG and they sent him a letter saying the car was delivered in gray so when he restores it, I think it will be put back to gray.

The car still sports the dealer tag of the dealer that took delivery of the car.

[frank]

I have been trying to convince Lothar to come up to Vintage at Saratoga with one(or more) of his cars.

[schwarz75]

That is very nice. Bill, will you be writing an article for your chapter's newsletter?

[BillWilliams]

I write a "Traditions" article for each issue of the newsletter, derBayerische. I may one day write an article on this car.

My focus is to educate me and others on the various vintage models and their owners.

I did an article on Lothar's 328, David Bowens AKA Otis's, Isetta and trailers, the current newsletter, MAR/APR is on Dr Ron's 1967 1800ti.

A fellow in our area owns a nice e-3 so I hope to write about that soon.

Here is a link to back issues on-line in PDF format

http://db.nccbmwcca.org/

[BillWilliams]

I asked Lothar (pronounced Low tar) why the car had a fixed vinyl roof, there is no metal under it, just bows.

He said in the thirties, the car companies were not able to stamp sheet metal that big. You may even notice some US cars with this feature.

[schwarz75]

I'm fortunate in that my wife picks up the mail for the Hoosier Chapter (of the BMWCCA). The National Capital Chapter and many other chapters send copies of their newletters to our chapter. Bill, you guys (and gals too) do a nice job with good writing and photography... and I especially enjoyed all the attention given to vintage BMWs in February.