Auto makers will always reach to the past for inspiration, and it seem the a few German manufacturers seek to revive a couple of open top racing legends. Development of the open top SLR Speedster revival has been covered for the past year with only first glimpses of the actual body styling being recently seen.
Now Vermot AG has put their skills to another legend, the Veritas, based on the BMW 328. It was 60 years ago the Veritas was born winning the first race after the Second World War in 1949, and going on to be the most successful German racing car of its time with 13 German Championships and 29 first places within just a few years.
A modern day interpretation, the Veritas RS III weighing only 1080 kg (2380 lbs.) is a pure race car unconfined by electronic driving aids – no anti-lock brakes, traction control – not even power brakes. It will forgo the BMW 6.0-liter V12 first shown in concept form in 2001 in favor of BMW's newer 5.0-liter engines, most notably the V10 from the BMW M5. With a tubular frame with carbon/kevlar body, there are two engines choices available:
BMW 5.0-liter V10 600hp with sequential transmission, 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.2s, top speed 347 km/h (215 mph).
BMW 5.0-liter V8 480hp with manual transmission, 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.6s, top speed 329 km/h (204 mph).
Vermot has released a rockin video of the Veritas RS II in action on the Nurburgring Nordschleife as well as some hyper road scenes.
On the basis of the BMW 328, Ernst Loof, Schorsch Meyer and Lorenz Dietrich build the first 'BMW Veritas' and begin an incomparable series of racetrack victories in 1949:
A Veritas wins its first race in front of 300,000 fascinated spectators in the first race after the Second World War. All in all, the successful racing car wins 13 German Championships and takes 29 first places within just a few years.
From 1951, the 'Veritas-Nürburgring' is made in the pits of the Nürburgring racetrack.
In the same year, the unparalleled development of the racing team iscrowned by the participation of a Veritas Meteor in the Swiss Formula 1 Grand Prix: Which makes the Veritas the first German Formula 1 racing car ever. Even today, the fascination exercised by this legendary racing car is as powerful as ever.
With the RS III, Veritas is launching the next generation – the continuation of a success story that simultaneously heralds the beginning of a new era.
The Veritas RS III, the modern version of the first German Formula 1 racing car, leaves you in no doubt about its heritage thanks to its impressive design, perfect engineering and incomparable responses.
After all, the 600 PS of the V10* engine need to be mastered – without the invisible help of today's otherwise omnipresent electronic aids, such as anti-skid brakes, traction control and power brakes.
The Veritas RS III recreates the pure feeling and fascination of an authentic racing car: true race feeling.
Technical Specifications
Engine: BMW 5,0l, V8, manual transmission (V10, automatic transmission)
Displacement 4999 cm³
Power: 480 PS (600 PS)
V-max: 329 km/h (347 km/h)
Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 3,6 s (3,2 s)
L x B x H: 4990 x 1974 x 974 mm
Weight: 1080 kg (1170 kg)
Wheelbase: 2840 mm
Chassis: Tubular framework
Body: Carbon-Kevlar
Differential: BMW with the option of various ratios and locks
Suspension: Independent with Öhlins shock-absorber components
Tyres / wheels: Brabham RS, 10,5 x 20 285/30-20, 12,5 x 20 335/25-20
The title confuses a bit - here I went and thought BMW actually designed a stunning car instead of hyper-lawn-mower concepts by Romanians.