1939 BMW 328 Touring Coupé – BMW Museum München 2022

Inhalte Verbergen

1 Technical Details:

2 Design:

3 Historical Significance:

4 Quirks and Pop Culture:

5 Display and preservation:

6 Conclusion:

Technical Details:

The BMW 328 was conceived as a focused sports car and represented a major technical leap for BMW in the late 1930s. Its heart was a front-mounted inline six-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1,971 cc. This power unit was derived from the six-cylinder used in the BMW 326 but was extensively reworked by BMW engineers. Key changes included the use of three carburetors instead of two, higher compression, and optimized combustion chambers with a semi-hemispherical shape. These measures increased output to 80 horsepower at 4,500 rpm. While overhead camshafts were not adopted for cost reasons, the engine still delivered strong performance and smooth power delivery.

Power was sent to the rear wheels, following the classic front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. With a top speed of up to 150 km/h, the BMW 328 stood out clearly among sports cars of its displacement class. The engine’s relatively modest maximum engine speed reflected a design focused on durability as well as performance, making it suitable for both road use and competition.

One of the most advanced features of the BMW 328 was its braking system. BMW equipped the car with hydraulic drum brakes on all four wheels, referred to in period sales literature as a “four-wheel hydraulic foot brake.” At a time when cable-operated braking systems were still widespread, this setup offered clear advantages. BMW claimed the car could come to a stop from 30 km/h within five meters, corresponding to a braking deceleration of 6.94 m/s². The brakes were self-adjusting, and the rear wheel cylinders were designed with different diameters to ensure even wear of the brake shoes, highlighting the company’s attention to technical detail.

Manufacturer: BMW
Model Name: BMW 328
Year of Manufacturing: 1936–1940

Design:

In terms of dimensions, the BMW 328 appeared compact and purposeful. Measuring approximately 3.90 meters in length and 1.55 meters in width, it had a light and agile stance. The sporting character was emphasized by leather straps running across the engine hood and by steel disc wheels with central locking mechanisms. These details reinforced the car’s motorsport credentials while remaining practical.

Access to the interior was less accommodating, a compromise typical of sports cars of the era. The rear-hinged doors opened into a narrow entry, further constrained by a relatively large steering wheel. Inside, the focus was on the driver, with a straightforward layout designed for control rather than luxury.

Beyond the standard roadster, the BMW 328 served as a platform for a variety of individual coachbuilt bodies. Cabriolet versions were produced by Ludwig Weinberger and Gläser, while Wendler of Reutlingen created a coupé with a removable hardtop. Wendler also built two streamlined cars based on designs by Freiherr Koenig-Fachsenfeld. These cars were considered highly aerodynamic in their time. Later wind tunnel tests in 1978 revealed a drag coefficient of 0.44, which could be reduced below 0.40 by modifying the ventilation openings in the hood. Many of these bodies were built largely by hand, using mixed construction with metal panels attached to wooden frameworks by numerous small nails. The BMW 328 Touring Coupé produced in 1939, as shown in the video, is one of the most distinctive expressions of this coachbuilt tradition.

Historical Significance:

The BMW 328 is widely regarded as the defining German sports car of the pre-war era. Its first public appearance came at the 1936 Eifel Race on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife, where it immediately dominated its class. Driven by Ernst Jakob Henne, it achieved an average speed of 101.6 km/h and won the category for sports cars up to 2,000 cc without supercharging.

The production version was introduced in February 1937 at a price of 7,400 Reichsmark. Between 1936 and early 1940, BMW built approximately 462 to 464 examples, depending on the source. These relatively low numbers underscore the car’s exclusivity, even as it gained widespread recognition for its performance.

Built in Eisenach, the BMW 328 helped shape BMW’s sporting identity. It combined competitive success with advanced engineering and influenced the brand’s reputation for combining driving dynamics with technical sophistication. After the Second World War, it would take many years before BMW achieved a comparable sporting triumph, underlining the importance of the 328 in the company’s history.

Quirks and Pop Culture:

The BMW 328 became the basis for numerous competition variants and special constructions. Streamlined coupés based on the model competed in the Mille Miglia in 1938, where they finished first and third, a remarkable achievement. A particularly specialized version, known as the BMW 328 Mille Miglia, was built specifically for that race. Featuring a lightweight aluminum aerodynamic body, it reportedly reached a top speed of 220 km/h.

For the 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans, BMW commissioned Italian coachbuilder Touring to create a coupé using its patented Superleggera construction. Thin aluminum panels were welded to a tubular framework, resulting in a very light but expensive structure. In the race, the car finished fifth overall and won its class. In 1940, BMW returned to the Mille Miglia with this car, a Kamm Coupé, and three roadsters that were considered prototypes for a planned post-war model.

From the outset, the BMW 328 inspired countless conversions and special builds, ranging from lighter body panels to entirely new chassis designed specifically for racing. Its engine was also frequently used in custom-built competition cars, further cementing its legacy in motorsport culture.

Display and preservation:

This vehicle was exhibited at the BMW Museum. The museum is located in Munich, Germany, next to the company’s headquarters and the BMW Welt, near the Olympiapark. It first opened in 1973, shortly after the Munich Olympic Games, and was extensively renovated and reopened in 2008. The museum presents around 120 exhibits, including automobiles, motorcycles, engines, and design studies from BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Unlike many automobile museums that focus mainly on vehicles, the BMW Museum is organized thematically, linking technology, design, and corporate history. Its distinctive bowl-shaped building is also a notable architectural feature.

Conclusion:

The BMW 328 stands as a cornerstone of BMW’s pre-war history. With an advanced six-cylinder engine, hydraulic brakes, and a design focused on performance and agility, it set new standards for sports cars of its era. Its success on the racetrack, combined with a wide variety of coachbuilt and competition versions, including the 1939 BMW 328 Touring Coupé shown in the video, ensured its lasting reputation. Technically innovative, visually distinctive, and historically significant, the BMW 328 remains a key reference point in the evolution of BMW as a manufacturer of sports-oriented automobiles.