1940 BMW 327

BMW was a manufacturer of aero engines and motorcycles when they acquired the Dixi works at Eisenach in 1928, giving them a foothold in motor manufacturing. During this time, the Stock Market crash in the United States brought about the Great Depression, wreaking havoc throughout the world. The uncertainty of war during the 1930s, eventually leading to World War II, would bring its own host of issues. Eisenach in Thuringia, Germany, would be the center of BMW's automobile manufacturing during the 1930s, but in 1945, it was occupied by United States forces. Wartime allies, however, had already agreed that Thuringia would fall within the Soviet occupation zone. The factories had been badly damaged during the war but not fully destroyed. When the war ended, the Soviets did not return the Eisenach factory to BMW (which was now behind the Iron Curtain), so BMW-branded automobiles produced between 1945 and 1952 were therefore being produced outside the control of BMW headquarters in Munich. Following disputes concerning ownership to the BMW brand and other assets, it was determined in 1952 that automobiles and motorcycles produced at Eisenach should be badged as EMW (Eisenacher Motorenwerk, Eisenach Motors' Works) rather than as BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke, Bavarian Motors' Works). The blue section of the badge was changed from blue to red. Production continued until 1956, when the company, now known as VEB Automobilwerk Eisenach, dropped its old BMW-based models and began manufacturing the new Wartburg.

Following the acquisition of the Dixi works at Eisenach in 1928, and before the onset of World War II, BMW produced nearly a dozen different models. Eisenach had entered into a contract with the Austin Motor Company to manufacture the Austin Seven under license. Known as the 3/15 DA-1, it became known as the BMW Dixi 3/15 DA-2 following updates and BMW's acquisition. The first BMW automobile designed entirely by BMW was the BMW 3/20 PS produced from 1932 to 1934. Similar in many ways to the Austin Seven, its engine was based on the unit powering the 3/15, but instead of roller bearings, its crankshaft ran in plain bearings. With a 3.1-inch stroke, its displacement measured 48.1 cubic inches (788 cc). It had compact proportions, albeit larger than the 3/15, with a wheelbase size of 84.6 inches and an overall length of 126 inches. It had a backbone frame with an independent front suspension and a swing axle setup in the back. Daimler-Benz in Sindelfingen produced the standard bodies, which included a four-seat saloon, a four-seat cabriolet, and a two-seat convertible coupe.

The BMW 303 was introduced in 1933 and was BMW's first six-cylinder motor car and the first BMW automobile with the now-iconic 'kidney grille.' The BMW 309 that followed was a four-cylinder version of the 303. The 1.5-liter BMW 315 replaced the 303 in 1934 and was built through 1937. The BMW 319 was a 1.9-liter version of the 303 and was built alongside the 315 from 1935 to 1937.

BMW's first four-door sedan was the medium-sized 326, produced between 1936 and 1941. Nearly 16,000 examples were built through 1941, plus around 16 more post-WWII (albeit under Soviet control). Its box-section frame, designed by Fritz Fiedler, was suspended by a torsion bar rear suspension. The hydraulic braking system was a 'first' for a BMW car. The straight-six engine, a version of the 319's powerplant, displaced 1,971cc and produced 50 PS at 3,750 RPM with a pair of 26mm Solex carburetors. The body styling was courtesy of Peter Szymanowski, who penned a graceful and streamlined four-door sedan and a two- or four-door cabriolet.

The BMW 320, BMW 321, BMW 327, and BMW 335 were based on the 326.

The BMW 327
Like the 326, the BMW 327 was a medium-sized vehicle. It had the same length as the 326 at 180 inches, but its wheelbase of 108 inches was shorter than the 326's 113 inches. Both were 63 inches wide, but the 327 was shorter at 56 inches tall compared to the 326's height of 61 inches. Most of the body styles of the 326 had four doors, but the 327 came solely as a two-door. A cabriolet was the only body style offered upon its introduction, joined a year later by a fixed-head coupe version. The streamlined styling was similar to that of the 326, including the use of the BMW grille.

The boxed, ladder-type chassis used semi-elliptic springs in the back instead of torsion bars used on the 320. Beneath the bonnet was the M78 pushrod straight-6 DOHC engine displacing 1,971cc and paired with a Hurth four-speed manual transmission with freewheel between 1st and 2nd gears, enabling clutch-less gear changes at low speeds. There was a centralized chassis lubrication system and hydraulic brakes.

In standard guise, the engine in the 327 produced approximately 55 horsepower. When ordered with the 328 'hemi-head' unit at extra cost, output rose to around 80 hp. Examples so-equipped were known as the 327/28, and approximately 569 examples of these high-powered versions were built through 1940.

Between 1937 and 1941, a total of 1,396 examples of the BMW 327 were built (plus the 569 with the uprated engine). Although not a significant figure, it was substantially higher than the 464 examples of the BMW 328 built during the same time (1936 to 1940). However, the 328 remains the more memorable of the two, with its roadster coachwork and high-output engine. Although the 327 was more commercially successful than its 328 sibling, the 328 was very successful in motorsport competition with over 100 class victories in 1937. Among its accolades were class victories at the RAC Tourist Trophy, the Österreichische Alpenfahrt, and the La Turbie hillclimb. It was a class winner at the 1938 and 1940 Mille Miglia and the Alpine Rally in 1938.

With a cleverly designed six-cylinder motor, advanced styling, durability, and excellent handling, the 327 was a commercial success for the German marque and an integral component of the company's legacy.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2023