BMW 328

The BMW 328 is a sports car made by BMW between 1936 and 1940, with the body design credited to Peter Szymanowski, who became BMW chief of design after World War II (although technically the car was designed by Fritz Fiedler).

This article is about the BMW 328 sports car of 1936–1940. For 3 series BMWs with 2.8-litre engines, see BMW 3 Series.
BMW 328
Overview
ManufacturerBayerische Motorenwerke
Production1936–1940
464 produced[1]
AssemblyGermany: Eisenach
DesignerPeter Szymanowski
Fritz Fiedler[2]
Alfred Böning[2]
Alex von Falkenhausen[2]
Ernst Loof[2]
Body and chassis
ClassSports car
Body styleRoadster
LayoutFR layout
RelatedBMW 319/1 (steering and suspension)
BMW 326 (brakes, engine block)[3]
Powertrain
Engine1,971 cc M328 straight-6
Transmission4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,400 mm (94.5 in)
Length3,900 mm (153.5 in)
Width1,550 mm (61.0 in)
Height1,400 mm (55.1 in)
Curb weight830 kg (1,830 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorBMW 319/1
SuccessorBMW 507

Specifications
Specifications[1]
Enginestraight-6 OHV (light alloy cylinder head)
Displacement1,971 cc (1.971 L; 120.3 cu in) (66 mm (2.6 in) Bore × 96 mm (3.8 in) Stroke)
Compression ratio7.5:1
Fuel feed3 Solex 30 JF downdraft carburetor
Power80 PS (59 kW; 79 hp)@5000rpm
Valve trainPushrod OHV, side cam shaft driven by duplex chain
Fuel capacity50 L (13 US gal; 11 imp gal) (if needed 100 L (26 US gal; 22 imp gal) possible)
CoolingPump (7,5 l water)
Transmission4-speed Manual
ChassisAluminium body and steel ladder frame[3]
Suspension frontswing axle with transverse leaf springs
Suspension rearlive axle with leaf springs
Shock absorbersHydraulic shock absorbers
Brakes280 mm (11 in)-diameter hydraulic drum brakes
Wheelbase2,400 mm (94 in)
Track1,153 mm (45.4 in)/1,220 mm (48 in)
External dimensions3,900 mm (150 in) × 1,550 mm (61 in) × 1,400 mm (55 in)
Tyres5.25 or 5.50–16
Unloaded weight830 kg (1,830 lb)
Top speed:150 km/h (93 mph)

Awards

In 1999 the BMW 328 was named one of 25 finalists for Car of the Century by a worldwide panel of automotive journalists.

Motorsports
Frank Pratt won the 1948 Australian Grand Prix driving a 328

The 328 was introduced at the Eifelrennen race at the Nürburgring in 1936, where Ernst Henne drove it to win the 2.0-litre class.[2][4] The 328 had more than 100 class wins in 1937, including the RAC Tourist Trophy, the Österreichische Alpenfahrt, and the La Turbie hillclimb.[5] In 1938, the 328 won its class at the RAC Tourist Trophy,[6] the Alpine Rally, and the Mille Miglia.[5]

The 328 won the RAC Rally in 1939[7] and came in fifth overall and first in class in the 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans.[6][8]

Frank Pratt won the 1948 Australian Grand Prix driving a 328.

Mille Miglia

In 1938, BMW 328 became a class winner in Mille Miglia.[5]

In 1940, the Mille Miglia Touring Coupe won the Mille Miglia[6][9] with an average speed of 166.7 km/h (103.6 mph).

In 2004, the BMW 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupe became the first car to win both the Mille Miglia (1940) and the modern-day classical version of the race.[10]

Production

After the Second World War, the manufacturing plant in Eisenach where the 328 had been built found itself in the Soviet occupation zone, and automobile manufacturing in Eisenach would follow a state-directed path until German Reunification in 1989.

Influence on Bristol

One of the Mille Miglia 328s (disguised as a Frazer Nash) and BMW's technical plans for the car were taken from the bombed BMW factory by English representatives from the Bristol Aeroplane Company and Frazer Nash companies. Fiedler, the BMW engineer, was persuaded to come, too. Bristol Cars was set up to build complete cars, called Bristols, and would also supply engines to Frazer Nash for all their post-war cars. The first Bristol car, the 400, was heavily based on the BMW plans. This Bristol engine was also an option in AC cars, before the Cobra.

  • 1937 BMW 328 „Fachsenfeld“ Coupé
  • 1940 BMW 328 „Mille Miglia“, with Adolf Brudes as the driver
  • Picture of BMW 328 engine
  • BMW 328, production year 1938

Notes
  1. "BMW 328 - The Legendary Roadster". Bmwccn.no. Archived from the original on 2010-01-03. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  2. Norbye, p.47
  3. Norbye, p.48
  4. Noakes, p. 31
  5. Norbye, pp. 66–67
  6. Noakes, p. 35
  7. "1939 Miscellaneous Rallies". Archived from the original on 2018-04-11. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
  8. Norbye, p. 67
  9. Norbye, p. 68
  10. Evans, Tom. "Revealed:new BMW Mille Miglia!". Cars.uk.msn.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2010-11-20.

References
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