Vendor supplied images
Highlights
- Shipped to the UK from China post-restoration in 2006 and untouched since
- A clone of the pre-war BMW R71 - renowned for its reliability and strength
- Complete with a sidecar which has been mounted on the left for UK roads
- Boasts upgraded electrics and front brakes
The Appeal
When BMW launched the R71 in 1938, little could they have known that its design would be emulated across the globe for decades to come.
The Soviet Union gained the rights to build the R71 under the short-lived Russo-German alliance of August 1939 - the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Christened the Dnepr M-72, the motorcycle would serve the Red Army admirably in the coming years and continued to be made by Soviet factories until 1960. In 1957, production was sold to China and that’s how this Chang Jiang came to be five years later.
Renowned for their ruggedness and performance across challenging terrain thanks to the innovative use of flat-twin engines and shaft-drive propulsion, these bikes are legendarily capable - especially in sidecar outfit form. This example is rather special, having lain dormant in a crate following restoration and import to the UK in 2006. The vendor lived in China at the time and brought the bike back with them, although never unboxed it upon arrival.
For those seeking a restored and sympathetically upgraded example of this historically significant machine, this is a fantastic opportunity.
The History and Paperwork
- Originally manufactured in 1962
- Restored and crated for UK import in 2006
- Remains unridden and unboxed
- The vendor includes the paperwork issued to them when they bought the bike in China
- Unregistered and offered without MOT
- The crate size is 200cm length x 160cm width x 96cm height.
The Condition
- Powder coated frame
- The fuel tank and sidecar have been refinished in silver and pinstriped in black
- Complete with a tonneau for the sidecar and gauntlets for the rider
- Equipped with a saddle bag
- The bike has never been removed from the crate for full inspection
- Dry-stored since the restoration
- All appears beautifully preserved
The Mechanics
- 750 cc horizontally opposed twin-cylinder, four-stroke engine
- Four-speed gearbox
- Upgraded electrical system
- Uprated front brakes
- Offered in untested post-restoration condition
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check, to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection or delivery.
