Tim Stafford:
The Art of BMW Motorcycle Restoration

There is what I call the practical restoration, which intends to put an old motorcycle back on the road looking good and working well. This covers most restoration projects. But then, at a higher level, there is the concours restoration. It intends to replace or refurbish accurately in the original way every single element of the motorcycle, down to the last screw, bolt, and tie. It produces a motorcycle that, in fact, looks better than when it came of the assembly line but is faithful in every least detail to the original. This kind of restoration transcends the mechanical and rises to the level of an art form. The end results are radiant in their luster and their perfection.

There are few artisans doing concours restorations on vintage BMW motorcycles. One of them is a Tim Stafford, of San Diego. One well known BMW motorcycle restorer said of Tim Stafford, "he is the gold standard of BMW motorcycle restoration."

In January 2006 I attended my first antique motorcycles auction. It was held by MidAmerica Auctions, and is the largest auction for historic motorcycles held in the U.S., and perhaps even the world. Over 500 vintage motorcycles were auctioned off over three days.

I was surprised and delighted that there were 18 classic BMWs up for auction, ranging in vintage from a 1928 R57 to a 1973 R75/5. As I rode my R1200RT up to Las Vegas from Tucson, I had dreams of owning a pre-war BMW twin — a dream that eventually went unfulfilled. There were a few up for auction, but the one I did bid on went for more than I could consider bidding (that 1928 R57 went for $36,500, which was then an auction record for a BMW).

My idea of going for a pre-war twin was quickly dampened, however, when I saw the white R50/2 in the photo above. It was, without a doubt, the most beautful restoration of a BMW I had ever seen. To me, it transcended mere mechanical restoration and rose into the realm of artistry. Every tiny detail was done perfectly. Indeed, the result was a motorcycle far more beautiful and perfect than it was when it rolled off the assembly line in 1963.

To some, that would be a criticism, because they would believe that restoration should restore and not, through perfection, become better than the original. The stunning beauty of the motorcycle before me, however, threw such concerns aside. To me, it was perfection. I wanted it, though when it brought $20,000 in bidding it was beyond my capacity as well. The equally beautiful black 1967 R50/2 in the photo, right, was also at the auction. This bike took Best of Show at the 30th Annual El Camino Motorcycle Show in 2005.

Who was the artisan who produced such wondrous machines? It was a name I had never heard: Tim Stafford, of San Diego, California. It turned out that Tim had been laboring for some 15 years restoring Vespas, such as the 150cc GL to the left, and other motor scooters. His company, “TJ Scoots” ( 619-281-9614) refers to his scooter heritage.

Tim has done a number of other high-end restorations of BMW motorcycles, though fewer than scooters. Another Stafford BMW sold in 2006 at Las Vegas was a 1953 R51/3 (photo above). Tim has decided now to focus his prodigious efforts on restoring BMW motorcycles, not scooters.

The 2006 Las Vegas motorcycles auction clearly set new highs for the value of fine old BMW motorcycles. The $20,000 brought by Tim's white R50/2 was probably a record for a slash-2 without a sidecar. But I believe as well that the three BMWs Tim brought to Vegas has shown vintage BMW motorcycle cognoscenti a level of restoration perfection previously unseen.

Tim brought several beautiful BMWs to the Las Vegas auction in 2007, including a Dover white R50/2 (above, left), a black R69, and a Granada red R69S (above, right). Of course, they all sold.

Autumn 2006 — Below: Tim has restored this once derelict 1969 R60/2 in original Granada red with white pinstriping. Above: The R60/2 is off the workbench and ready to ride, with San Diego in the background.