After the war, British engineers smuggled a 328 — disguised as a Frazer Nash — and BMW's own blueprints out of the bombed factory. Those plans became the basis for the first Bristol car.
Lead trim: 328 (M328 2.0 OHV I6, 80 PS)
BMW 328328 · 1936–1940
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a BMW 328 yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactAfter the war, British engineers smuggled a 328 — disguised as a Frazer Nash — and BMW's own blueprints out of the bombed factory. Those plans became the basis for the first Bristol car.
The BMW 328 is a sports car produced by BMW from 1936 to 1940 (464 produced), its body design credited to Peter Szymanowski (though technically the car was designed by Fritz Fiedler, with Alfred Böning, Alex von Falkenhausen and Ernst Loof). Its 1,971 cc straight-six had an OHV layout with a light-alloy cylinder head and a side camshaft driven by a duplex chain, a 7.5:1 compression ratio, three Solex 30 JF downdraft carburetors and 80 PS (59 kW; 79 hp) at 5000 rpm, in an aluminium body on a steel ladder frame with independent front suspension by transverse leaf spring, a live axle with leaf springs and 280 mm hydraulic drum brakes: 830 kg (1,830 lb) and a top speed of 150 km/h (93 mph), on a 2,400 mm (94.5 in) wheelbase. It was introduced at the Eifelrennen at the Nürburgring in 1936, where Ernst Henne won the 2.0-litre class, had more than 100 class wins in 1937 (including the RAC Tourist Trophy, the Österreichische Alpenfahrt and the La Turbie hillclimb), won its class at the 1938 RAC Tourist Trophy, Alpine Rally and Mille Miglia, won the 1939 RAC Rally and came fifth overall and first in class in the 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans; in 1940 the 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupé won the Mille Miglia at an average 166.7 km/h (103.6 mph). Frank Pratt won the 1948 Australian Grand Prix in a 328, and it was one of 25 finalists for Car of the Century in 1999. One of the Mille Miglia 328s and BMW's technical plans were taken from the bombed factory by Bristol and Frazer Nash representatives, and the first Bristol, the 400, was heavily based on them.
Collectors Spotted in the BMW 328 Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the BMW 328 yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 328 (M328 2.0 OHV I6, 80 PS) | 1936–1940 | 2.0 L Inline-6 | 79 hp | 93 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
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Owners’ builds
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Photographs
Rivals
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