In 1934 Frazer Nash (AFN) became the sole importer of BMW into U.K.; a nice chain drive car from that pre-war era is racing at the Goodwood Revival. Photos I took this weekend:
Attachment 559119
Attachment 559120
At the end of the Second World there was Military Government by the Allies with Munich being on a sector under US control.
On 1 October 1945 a Lt Col from the US Army ordered the Mayor of City of Munich to dismantle the BMW works and ship it all to the USA. The letter with that order exists:
Attachment 559122
However one of the Aldington brothers who owned Fraser Nash (AFN Ltd) helped prevent this. He had flown fto Germany and met with the director General BMW who was in prison (along with heads of many industrial firms) whilst their role in war was being investigated. “Aldy” endorsed a petition by directors of BMW to keep production in Germany.
While the role of a British army Captain is very well known in saving VW after WWII, the fact BMW probably owe their existence today to the intervention of British Officer Lt Col Aldington, much less so. AFN Ltd went on to be sole concessionaire for Porsche in U.K. in the fifties and evolved to found Porsche Cars Great Britain with Ferry Porsche Chairman of the Board.
The very timely intervention by “Aldy” has not been recognised enough in world automotive history. The directors of BMW were fighting to keep the plant in Germany. If the American order to dismantle and ship the entire BMW plant to USA had been carried out unchallenged would BMW even exist?
“Aldys” endorsement on the petition to keep the BMW plant (possibly self serving in view of the AFN prewar BMW sole GB concession):
Attachment 559121
That “Aldy” was same rank as the US Officer who issued the order to the Munich Mayor no doubt helped redress the power balance.
The US officer’s order never came to fruition. Something that BMW owners and enthusiasts should all be thankful for. They couldn’t have forseen from such a perilous position on 1945 BMW would recover and now own RR Motor Cars and the iconic Mini Brand.
Steve