1950 Veritas SP-90 Coupe

From 1948 to 1950, the Veritas was the two-liter car to beat on the European racing scene. The Veritas-BMW Hemi six-cylinder engine and four-speed transmission outclassed and outran the competition during these years, collecting 30 victories and eight National Championships.

This SP-90's coachwork by Hermann Spohn Karosseriebau of Ravensburg is certainly unique among Veritas vehicles, with its dramatic tail fins and a long hood.

The Veritas marque was the work of Ernst Loof, Georg Meier, and Lorenz Dietrich. Meier was a winner of the 1939 motorcycle Tourist Trophy, Loof was also a motorcycle champ who had managed BMW's sports department, and Dietrich had worked for BMW. Following World War II, these three individuals decided to use BMW components to build their own cars. Customers were required to supply their own drivetrains as the Allied Forces occupying Germany would not allow the manufacture of engines larger than one liter. These drivetrains would then be installed at the factory in Hausern. All powerplants were from stock or modified 326 units or from the 328.

All of the coupe, cabriolet, and sports roadster bodies were created by Spohn, whose work was principally found on the Maybach chassis. Since BMW objected to the use of their name on cars they did not manufacture, they wore Vertias badges.

Spohn was enamored with the Le Sabre concept created by Harley Earl and created several custom cars with design cues inspired by the Le Sabre, including the rear fins and taillights. With the Le Sabre concept, Earl attempted to merge modern jet aircraft styling components with the automobile. The name came from the Air Force Sabre jet fighters, the front jet-like intake held two headlights, the rear fins hinted at P-38-inspired Cadillac fins, and the rear nozzle was also jet-inspired.

It is believed that this BMW-Veritas SP-90 is in original condition, and may have been returned to Spohn for various modifications including the addition of fender skirts and an upper grille assembly in the nose. Press reports from the period suggest it wore a turquoise paint scheme along with Cadillac-style sombrero hub caps and wide-whites, along with chrome rear wheel spats.

This BMW-Veritas SP90 is equipped with a Hemi-head BMW inline-six-cylinder engine.

It is believed that an American serviceman brought the vehicle to the United States in the early 1950s. R.J. Mrofka acquired it from that individual in 1965. A short time later, Mr. Mrofka sold it to the late Lee Hartung, and would remain secluded with him for over five decades. It remains in 'as found' condition, with only a mechanical rebuild.

After Mr. Hartung passed away, his collection was dispersed in 2011, including this 'barn-find' condition Veritas. It currently wears cream-colored paint with hints of the original turquoise showing through in places.

In 2013, the car was shown at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in the class dubbed 'What were they thinking?'