1930 BMW 3/15 PS Cabriolet DA2 - Serial Number 21296

 

Lead photograph of 1930 BMW 3/15 PS Cabriolet DA2 - Serial Number 21296

To get into the small–car business as quickly as possible, BMW’s factory at Eisenach took up license production of the British Austin Seven, which had been built since 1922 in Longbridge. In December 1927, Eisenach introduced its version as the 3/15 hp Dixi DA 1 (DA=Deutsche Ausfuhrung, “German Version”), little changed from its English counterpart. The BMW propeller motif didn’t appear on the cars until 1929 when the BMW DA 2 3/15 was introduced. BMW continued building the Dixi DA 1 until July 1929, at which time an improved version called the BMW 3/15 went into production. One important change was four–wheel brakes; the front brakes of the Dixi had served only as a parking device. Total production of all models in 1930 was 3146 cars.

Mick and Colleen Sheehan entered BMW 3/15 PS s/n 21296 into the August 17th, 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance with their father’s help. The BMW 3/15 PS, with a rebuilt engine and before restoration, was accepted for Pebble Beach on February 9, 2003. BMW 3/15 PS s/n 21296 won 3rd in Class P–1 (Austin Seven) at the 53rd Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance.

The 53rd Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance took place at Pebble Beach, California on the weekend of August 14–17th, 2003. The weekend started with the sixth annual Pebble Beach Tour held on Thursday August 14, with more than 130 magnificent vehicles forming a parade for spectators along a route nearly 50 miles long. This was no easy drive for the Pebble Beach candidates as the route includes some surprising challenges. The Sheehans participated in the Tour in BMW 3/15 DA 2 Cabriolet s/n 21296 with the top down.

Click here to see every car that crossed the podium at the 53rd Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance.

Before Restoration
Photograph of Before Restoration — Front right viewPhotograph of Before Restoration — HoodPhotograph of Before Restoration — Front left viewPhotograph of Before Restoration — Rear right viewPhotograph of Before Restoration — Rear viewPhotograph of Before Restoration — Rear left viewPhotograph of Before Restoration — Rear right view — top downPhotograph of Before Restoration — Engine from leftPhotograph of Before Restoration — Engine from rightPhotograph of Before Restoration — Engine numberPhotograph of Before Restoration — TransmissionPhotograph of Before Restoration — Dashboard overallPhotograph of Before Restoration — OdometerPhotograph of Before Restoration — InstrumentationPhotograph of Before Restoration — CarburetorPhotograph of Before Restoration — CarburetorPhotograph of Before Restoration — CarburetorPhotograph of Before Restoration — Data platePhotograph of Kabriolett documentation
Disassembly, Bodywork, and 1st Primer Coat
Photograph of During Restoration — Front right viewPhotograph of During Restoration — Front viewPhotograph of During Restoration — Front left viewPhotograph of During Restoration — Rear right viewPhotograph of During Restoration — Rear left viewPhotograph of During Restoration — Right side view — aligning hood supportPhotograph of During Restoration — Rear fendersPhotograph of During Restoration — Driver's door panelPhotograph of During Restoration — Front fendersPhotograph of During Restoration — Drip channels
Final Bodywork, and Finish Coat
Photograph of During Restoration — Rear left viewPhotograph of During Restoration — Rear right viewPhotograph of During Restoration — Interior masked for paint workPhotograph of During Restoration — Hood panelsPhotograph of During Restoration — Hood panelsPhotograph of During Restoration — Rocker panel treadsPhotograph of During Restoration — Rear right view — finish coatPhotograph of During Restoration — Rear view — finish coatPhotograph of During Restoration — Passenger's doorPhotograph of During Restoration — Driver's doorPhotograph of During Restoration — Hood panelPhotograph of During Restoration — Discussing the workPhotograph of During Restoration — Engine and front right suspension detailPhotograph of During Restoration — Engine and front left suspension detailPhotograph of During Restoration — Rear suspension detailPhotograph of During Restoration — Rocker panelsPhotograph of During Restoration — Headlight assemblies
After Assembly and Nickel Plating
Photograph of After Restoration — Front left viewPhotograph of After Restoration — Front viewPhotograph of After Restoration — Front right viewPhotograph of After Restoration — Rear left viewPhotograph of After Restoration — Rear viewPhotograph of After Restoration — Rear right viewPhotograph of After Restoration — EnginePhotograph of After Restoration — EnginePhotograph of After Restoration — License platePhotograph of After Restoration — Tail light & exhaustPhotograph of After Restoration — Drip channel detailPhotograph of After Restoration — Windshield framePhotograph of After Restoration — Tail lightPhotograph of After Restoration — Front left suspensionPhotograph of After Restoration — Rocker panel treadsPhotograph of After Restoration — Rocker panel treads detailPhotograph of After Restoration — Rocker panel treads detailPhotograph of After Restoration — Ambi–Budd emblemPhotograph of After Restoration — Bodywork detailPhotograph of After Restoration — Driver's footwellPhotograph of After Restoration — Door strapPhotograph of After Restoration — Passenger's footwellPhotograph of After Restoration — Interior from right
After Work at Carobu Engineering
Photograph of At Carobu Engineering — Right side viewPhotograph of At Carobu Engineering — Front viewPhotograph of At Carobu Engineering — Front left viewPhotograph of At Carobu Engineering — Front left view — windshield openPhotograph of At Carobu Engineering — Rear left view
Detailing at Mr. Shine
Photograph of Detailing — Front right viewPhotograph of Detailing — Front left viewPhotograph of Detailing — Rear right viewPhotograph of Detailing — Rear left view
Sixth Annual Pebble Beach Tour
Photograph of Pebble Beach Tour — Tune upPhotograph of Pebble Beach Tour — Discussing the finer points of Dixi ownership
53rd Annual Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance
Photograph of Pebble Beach Concours — Last minute detailingPhotograph of Pebble Beach Concours — After judgingPhotograph of Pebble Beach Concours — On display with Mick and ColleenPhotograph of Pebble Beach Concours — On displayPhotograph of Pebble Beach Concours — Entry sheetPhotograph of Pebble Beach Concours — In line for the podiumPhotograph of Pebble Beach Concours — Waiting to cross the podiumPhotograph of Pebble Beach Concours — Crossing the podiumPhotograph of Pebble Beach Concours — Ribbons
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