conceptcarz.com

Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).

1937 BMW 328 Roadster

  • Coachwork by Touring
  • Chassis Number: 85135
  • Engine Number: 85209
On June 14th of 1936, at the annual Eifelrennen event held at the Nurburgring, a strong field of race cars was defeated by Ernst Henne driving the prototype BMW 328 roadster. Fritz Fiedler, the company's chief engineer, gave the 328 a solid but lightweight twin-tube chassis, with a live rear axle mounted on semi-elliptical springs and independent front suspension via A-arms and a transverse leaf spring. Steering was by rack-and- pinion. The lightweight aerodynamic body was made of aluminum over ash with steel fenders. The 328 was powered by a six-cylinder engine with an ingenious new cylinder head designed by Rudolf Schleicher. Downdraft inlet ports and triple-Solex carburetors gave the car tremendous performance without the need of supercharging.

The 328 won its class at the Mille Miglia, Le Mans, Spa 24 Hours and Britain's Tourist Trophy. Leading drivers included members of the factory team, as well as privateers and team drivers such as those supported by British importer Frazer Nash. Taking performance to another level, a special aerodynamic coupe body won the Mille Miglia outright in 1940.

This BMW 328 Roadster was in the ownership of a Russian military officer station in Germany in the post-War era. It was later acquired by an Austrian where it was dismantled with the intention of conducting a complete restoration. Discovered after many years in storage, the BMW was restored in Austria and prepared for vintage events.

In the mid-2000s, the car was purchased by Henry Petronis. During his ownership, the elegant BMW was displayed at the St. Michaels Concours d'Elegance on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

The 328 is finished in traditional white German racing livery and outfitted with rear-wheel spats, turn indicators and drilled wheels wearing period-appropriate Englebert competition tires. The seats are upholstered in black leather and the fascia features the full complement of Veigel and VDO instruments. There is a more modern Volvo gearbox and the engine is equipped with the high-performance OZ 80 aluminum cylinder heads and three Solex twin-choke carburetors.

In 2012, the car was offered for sale by Gooding & Company at their Scottsdale, Az. auction. The car was estimated to sell for $500,000 - $650,000. The car found new ownership for the sum of $517,000, inclusive of buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2012

2012 Gooding and Company - The Scottsdale Auction

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $500,000-USD $650,000 
Sale Price :
USD $517,000

1937 BMW 328 Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the BMW 328

(Data based on Model Year 1937 sales)
1937 BMW 328 ROADSTER
Chassis#: 85138
Sold for USD$874,000
  2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1937 BMW 328 image  1937 BMW 328 image  
1937 BMW 328
Chassis#: 85059
Sold for USD$830,000
  2020 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale Arizona
 
1937 BMW 328 ROADSTER
Chassis#: 85095
Sold for USD$990,000
  2014 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction
1937 BMW 328 image  1937 BMW 328 image  
1937 BMW 328 Roadster
Chassis#: 85135
Sold for USD$517,000
  2012 Gooding and Company - The Scottsdale Auction
1937 BMW 328 image  1937 BMW 328 image  
1937 BMW 328 Roadster
Chassis#: 85079
Sold for USD$667,000
  2010 Bonhams - Quail Lodge
 
1937 BMW 328
Sold for USD$302,500
  2009 Automobiles of Amelia Island
1937 BMW 328 image  1937 BMW 328 image  

BMW 328s That Failed To Sell At Auction

1937 BMW 328's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1938 BMW 328 Special Competition Roadster853352023 RM Sothebys : Monterey $1,900,000$2,900,000
1937 BMW 328 ROADSTER 2011 Rétromobile   
1937 BMW 328 Roadster 2002 Monterey Sports and Classic Car Auction$180,000  

Vehicles With Comparable Market Values

Similar sales to the $696,750 range.
2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition
Chassis#:1FAFP90SX6Y400966
Sold for $692,500
2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia
1932 Packard Twin Six Coupe Roadster
Chassis#:900471
Sold for $692,500
2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia
1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  
1909 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Roi des Belges in the style of Barker
Chassis#:1175
Sold for $698,500
2023 RM Sothebys : Hershey
1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  
1937 Lagonda LG45 Rapide Sport Tourer
Chassis#:12172/R
Sold for $692,500
2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center
1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  
2023 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT DEMON 170
Chassis#:*0000202306242023
Sold for $700,000
2023 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas
1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Roadster
Chassis#:188.015.6500090
Sold for $699,256
2023 RM Sothebys : Villa Erba
2009 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
Chassis#:ZFFFD60B000156075
Sold for $693,170
2023 RM Sothebys : Villa Erba
1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona par Scaglietti
Chassis#:13407
Sold for $690,934
2023 Artcurial : Retromobile
1936 AUBURN 852 SC BOATTAIL SPEEDSTER
Chassis#:33914-E
Sold for $692,500
2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Convertible Roadster by LeBaron
Sold for $698,000
2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  
1981 BMW M1
Chassis#:WBS59910004301326
Sold for $692,500
2022 Broad Arrow Auctions : Monterey Jet Center Auction
1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  
1937 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Cabriolet C by Sindelfingen
Chassis#:113715
Sold for $692,500
2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  
1938 BMW 328 Roadster
Chassis#:85144
Sold for $698,000
2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  
1930 Bentley 4½-Litre Tourer in the style of Vanden Plas
Chassis#:PB3549
Sold for $698,000
2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  1937 BMW 328 vehicle thumbnail image  
2018 Mercedes-Benz G650 Maybach V12 Landaulet
Sold for $698,539
2022 Bonhams : Spring Motoring Online
1961 Aston Martin DB4
Chassis#:DB4/560/L
Sold for $697,754
2022 Artcurial : Retromobile
2017 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster
Sold for $698,500
2022 Mecum : Glendale
2022 FORD SHELBY GT500KR FIRST PRODUCTION
Chassis#:*
Sold for $700,000
2022 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Arizona
2022 TOYOTA TUNDRA CAPSTONE HYBRID CREWMAX PICKUP VIN 001
Chassis#:TBA
Sold for $700,000
2022 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Arizona
2022 KARMA GS-6 EV 305 EDITION
Chassis#:50G6E4SS1NA00305
Sold for $700,000
2022 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Arizona

1937 BMW 328

Additional valuation insight and sales data
History
Specifications
Image gallery
Other BMW 328 model years

1937 BMW 328 Vehicle Profiles