Engine: 494.00 ccm (30.14 cubic inches) Compression ratio: 6.3:1Power: 24.00 HP (17.6 kW) @ 5800 RPM Speed: 84 MPH (135 Km/hr) Restored: Yes- Phil Galvin History: The 1938 BMW R51 is essentially an updated sprung version of the ground breaking R5. With fewer than 4,000 made before 1940, it remains a rare and significant model. This bike has lot of local Cairns history, manufactured on August 31st, 1938 and delivered to the Australian BMW importer Jazz Lowrey in Cairn. Jazz also he owned the local Queens Hotel. It was sold to a Thomas Tung-Yep (Leslie Fang Yuen, 22, Thomas Tung Yep, 23, and William Wong Hoy, 22, three mates from Cairns, were the first Chinese accepted for air crew by the RAAF Queensland). Thomas as going to war sold it to Rusty Rees, well-known local business man of “Rusty Market” fame. These bikes were a very fast bike for their day with chain driven twin cams and needle roller crankshaft, so Rusty being Rusty started racing it locally on the Old Smiths Creek Mudflats and 4 Mile Beach in Port Douglas. Finally it got left in the back of the workshop where Phil Galvin (the mechanic) for 51 years pestered Rusty for that bike until Rusty passed away in 2000. Rusty left the R51 to Phil in his Will, so Phil finally got his bike. Phil Galvin pulled it apart and restored the bike to its former glory! Along with bike on display are a lot of Phil's Trophies and Sashes he has won over many years of racing here locally, another local Legend. The present owner purchased the bike from Phil in 2016. Have set of Amal Fisher carbies, head light bucket, controls, wiring loom, rear guard, luggage rack and other original parts to go with bike. Vin# 508288
