Lot 134: 1937 BMW 328 Roadster

BMW’s emergence as a manufacturer of fine sporting motor cars can be traced back to the annual Eifelrennen event held at the Nürburgring on 14th June 1936, when Ernst Henne beat a field that included 1½-litre monoposto racing cars driving the prototype of what would become one of the most iconic sports cars of all time – the legendary ‘328’. The fact that this overwhelming victory had been achieved only eight years after BMW’s establishment as an automobile manufacturer is all the more remarkable.

It had been the acquisition of the Dixi works at Eisenach in 1928 that provided BMW, hitherto a manufacturer of aero engines and motorcycles, with a foothold in car manufacturing. Dixi’s built-under-license version of the Austin Seven was gradually developed and improved, ending up with swing-axle suspension and overhead valves, and then in 1933 came the first true BMW - the six-cylinder 303. The latter adopted a twin-tube frame and abandoned the rear swing axles in favour of a conventional live axle, while up front there was a superior transverse-leaf IFS and rack-and-pinion steering. These features, along with the four-bearing, overhead-valve engine, would provide the basis for the more powerful and sportingly inclined models to follow.

Lacking the resources of larger and longer established rivals, BMW adopted an evolutionary, ‘mix and match’ approach to model development. Thus the 328 employed the tubular chassis, transverse-leaf independent front suspension and live rear axle of the 319; the cylinder block and hydraulic brakes of the 326; and a body incorporating stylistic elements of the 319/1 Sport and 329. With the 328, BMW’s Chief Engineer Fritz Fiedler turned accepted chassis design on its head, coming up with a frame that combined lightness and stiffness in equal measure - virtues that permitted the use of relatively soft springing with all its attendant advantages. In short: the 328 was the first truly modern sports car.

The 328’s six-cylinder engine featured an ingenious new cylinder head, designed by Rudolf Schleicher, which incorporated hemispherical combustion chambers and inclined valves without recourse to overhead, or twin camshafts. Instead, the Type 326, 1,971cc engine’s single, block-mounted camshaft and pushrod valve actuation were retained, thus avoiding an expensive redesign. Two rocker shafts were employed, one situated above each bank of valves, giving the engine an external appearance almost indistinguishable from that of a twin-overhead-cam design. Down-draught inlet ports contributed to the motor’s deep breathing, and its tune-ability made it a popular choice for British racing car constructors, most notably Cooper, during the 1950s. The 328 engine produced 80bhp, an exemplary output for a normally aspirated 2.0-litre unit at that time, with more available in race trim.

The two door-less 328 prototypes and the first batch of cars were lightweight racers with aluminium coachwork intended to establish the model’s competition credentials before production proper got under way. Available from the late summer of 1936, the production 328s featured doors and a convertible hood, and were well equipped and very comfortable in the manner of the best Grands Routiers. On the racetrack, the 328 reigned supreme, winning its class at the Mille Miglia, Le Mans, Spa 24 Hours and Britain’s Tourist Trophy. In 1940 an example fitted with special aerodynamic bodywork won the Mille Miglia outright.

The most advanced sports car of its day, the 328 remained competitive for years after the war, a state of affairs that only served to further enhance its reputation, which was out of all proportion to the limited number produced. Between 1936 and 1939 only 426 BMW 328s were made, of which fewer than 200 are believed to exist today.

This particular example has been totally restored by Peter Rosenow in Rangsdorf, Germany and its engine up-rated to produce circa 135bhp (dynamometer printout available). All racing parts are ‘bolt on’ - including roll bar and tonneau - so can be easily removed if desired, while the original seats, windscreen and wheels come with the car. The vendor has campaigned his BMW 328 extensively in some of the prestigious historic motor sport events including the Nürburgring Oldtimer GP, Mille Miglia, Cento Doro, Le Mans Historic, Eifel Klassik, Jochberg Rennen, Schloss Dyk Klassik days, Jan Wellen and Ennstal Klassik. Offered ready to continue its career in the hands of a fortunate new owner, the car is offered with FIA Historic Vehicle Identity Form, German Fahrzeugbrief, and BMW Mobile Tradition Certificate.




Cette voiture totalement restaurée par Peter Rosenow de Rangsdorf (Allemagne) est équipée d’un moteur dont la puissance a été portée à environ 135 ch (fiche de résultats au banc disponible). Tous les éléments compétition sont fixés par boulons afind’en faciliiter le démontage. Les sièges, pare-brise et roues d’origine seront joints. Le vendeur a piloté souvent cette BMW 328 dans quelques-unes des épreuves historiques les plus prestigieuses : Nürburgring Old Timer Grand Prix, Mille Miglia, Cento Doro, Le Mans Historic, Eifel Klassik, Jochberg Rennen, Schloss Dyk Klassik, Jan Welle et Ennstal Klassik. Offerte prête à continuer sa carrière sportive, la voiture possède sa carte d’identité FIA pour véhicule historique, le Fahrzeugbrief allemand et le BMW Mobile Tradition Certificate.