1937 BMW 328

Gustav Otto founded Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik in Bavaria in 1910 and reorganized it in 1916 as Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG. In 1922, it was renamed Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW). Max Friz designed company's first product in the spring of 1917, a straight-six aircraft engine named the BMW IIIa, The company later produced a variety of products including motorcycle engines, household items, railway brakes, and farm equipment. In 1928, they purchased Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach which gave them a foothold in automobile manufacturing. At the time, Eisenach built a licensed version of the Austin Seven through the Dixi marque. The first BMW automobile was a rebadged version of the Dixi called the BMW 3/15. From these humble beginnings, BMW grew into a manufacturer of sports cars and larger luxury cars. The first true BMW was the six-cylinder 303 introduced in 1933. Instead of using the rear swing axles of its predecessors, it was given a twin-tube frame and a conventional live axle, with the front employing a transverse-leaf independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering. Power was sourced from a four-bearing, overhead-valve engine. It was the company's first motor car with the 'kidney grille' and the first with a six-cylinder engine. Evolutions of the model that used its platform included a four-cylinder version dubbed the 309. The BMW 315 replaced the 303 in 1934 and came equipped with a 1.5-liter version of the engine. The BMW 319 was a 1.9-liter version of the 303 and was in production from 1935 to 1937.

1937 BMW 328 photo
Roadster
Chassis #: 85337
View info and history
The BMW 328 followed in the footsteps of the preceding models and employed the tubular chassis, transverse-leaf independent front suspension and live rear axle of the 319. The frame was designed by BMW's Chief Engineer Fritz Fiedler who focused on lightweight construction and stiffness in equal measure. The hydraulic brakes and cylinder block were of the 326, and many of the styling elements of the body were sourced from the 319/1 Sport and 329. The six-cylinder engine featured a new cylinder head, designed by Rudolf Schleicher, which incorporated hemispherical combustion chambers and inclined valves. The down-draught inlet ports improved the motor's airflow and aided in the engine's production of 80 horsepower, an impressive output for a normally aspirated 2.0-liter unit at the time. In racing guise, output was even higher.

The early examples of the 328 and the two door-less prototypes wore lightweight aluminum coachwork and were intended for competition. Built before production properly got underway, they were intended to establish the model's performance credentials on the international racing stage. Among the accolades achieved were class victories at the Mille Miglia, Le Mans, Spa 24 Hours and Britain's Tourist Trophy. A specially prepared example with aerodynamic bodywork won the Mille Miglia in 1940.

The production BMW 328s were built from late summer of 1936 through 1940 and eventually, 464 examples (as few as 426 examples) were built. They wore bodies that featured doors and convertible top. The wheelbase measured 94.5 inches, had a length of 153.5 inches, stood 55.1 inches tall, and was 61 inches wide. The 1,971cc M328 straight-six cylinder engine had pushrod overhead valves, a side camshaft driven by duplex chain, 7.5:1 compression, three Solex downdraft carburetors, and offered 80 horsepower at 5,000 RPM. It had a four-speed manual transmission, hydraulic drum brakes, and aluminum coachwork covering the steel ladder frame.

1937 BMW 328 photo
Roadster by Touring
Although production of the 328 ended in 1940, its successor would not arrive until the mid-1950s with the arrival of the BMW 507 roadster.


by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2022

Related Reading : BMW 327/328 History

In 1936, BMW (Bavarian Motor Works) introduced the stylish and aerodynamic Type 328. The design of the vehicle, courtesy of Fritz Fiedler, provided excellent handling and the inline-six-cylinder engine produced excellent performance. The engine featured a cast-iron block and dual overhead valves per cylinder bank. The total output was around 80 horsepower. The engine was placed in the front and provided....
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Related Reading : BMW 328 History

The BMW 328 Roadster was a compact two-seater with leather straps adorning the front hood and a very potent force in the racing scene. It was powered by a lightweight six-cylinder engine bred from the success of its siblings and fitted to a short-wheelbase chassis, the 328s was very sporty, culminating with a win at the 1940 Mille Miglia. Racing has always been important it perfects the breed....
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