1937 BMW 326

The Bavarian Motor Works got their start building the affordable and minimalistic Dixi, a British Austin 7 Roadster built under license. This model would eventually evolve into larger and more powerful models, and would pave the way for the high-performance 'ultimate driving machines' that followed. Among the pre-war models was the 303 introduced in 1933, the first model to feature the iconic kidney-shaped grille and the first to be equipped with an inline 6-cylinder engine. The 1,182cc engine was a development of the prior 3/20's inline 4-cylinder unit, itself an extension of the motor the company had licensed from Austin.

The Model 315 arrived in 1934, was designed by Peter Szymanowski, and was powered by a 1,490 cubic centimeter engine, and the 319 of 1936 employed a 1,911 cubic-centimeter engine with two Solex carburetors and producing 55 horsepower. A total of 6,646 examples of the 319 were produced through 1937. Further evolution brought about the famed 328, which would in turn, influence the 507 produced in the post-war era. Introduced in 1936, the 328 was noted for its semi-streamlined bodywork and its ability to reach speeds of 100 mph in standard guise. In 1937, Sammy Davis drove a fully equipped but slightly tuned example for one hour at Brooklands and covered 102.2 miles.

The BMW 326
The BMW 326 was produced from 1936 to 1941, and again in 1945 (albeit under Soviet control). The BMW 326 was a medium-sized vehicle and the company's first four-door sedan. A total of 15,936 examples of the 326 were built through 1941, and sixteen examples around 1946.

The BMW 326 was designed by Fritz Fiedler with a box-section frame, a 113-inch wheelbase, a width of 63 inches, and a length of 180 inches. Its mechanical sophistication included the hydraulic braking system and the torsion bar rear suspension. The 1,971cc, overhead valve (OHV) straight-six engine (M78), an evolution of the 319's powerplant, had a 66 mm bore and 96 mm stroke, twin 26 mm Solex carburetors, and developed approximately 50 horsepower at 3,750 RPM. It was paired with a four-speed gearbox with freewheeling on the bottom ratios and synchromesh on the top two gears.

Body styles included a four-door sedan, and a two- or four-door cabriolet with styling courtesy of Peter Szymanowski.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2023