- 1 of only 569 examples of the 327/328 produced in all
- Top-spec model with high-performance BMW 328 engine
- Streamlined European Art Deco-design in great colors
- CCCA Full Classic®; Eligible for events and tours
LOT 321
Selling on Saturday
From the Passport Collection
1939 BMW 327/328 Cabriolet
One of the finest cars from pre-war Germany was the elegant, yet sporting and proportioned two-seater BMW 327 Cabriolet. Set on a 108-inch wheelbase chassis and featuring sweeping pontoon fenders, a long nose with short rear deck, split front windshield, and laid-back twin element grille, it was pleasing from any angle. Perhaps the only thing better than looking at a 327 was driving one. Production began with the cabriolet, which debuted in November 1937, followed by a coupe from October 1938. If the 327 was coveted, committed driving enthusiasts were thrilled by the debut of the higher-specification 327/328, so designated in recognition of its 80-horsepower BMW 328 triple carb engine. The architecture of the 328-engine captivated British engineers who encountered it as well, with England's Bristol producing a copy that powered its high-end saloons and touring cars.
Priced at a premium of 630 to 650 Deutschmarks over the basic 327, depending upon the body style selected, the 328-powered BMW 327/328 was introduced in October 1938 and available for purchase to 1940, with the handful of cars built after the September 1939 outbreak of WWII in Europe delivered to foreign buyers. Performance was elevated considerably over the 327, with its brisk performance envelope including a true 140 km/h (87 mph) top speed, along with stronger acceleration and the sophisticated handling characteristics to harness its newfound power. Available as a sleek coupe and dashing open-air cabriolet, the BMW 327/328 continues to be renowned as one of the finest pre-war touring cars produced on either side of the Atlantic. Just 569 of these beautiful performers were built in all.
A lovely example of the famed pre-war BMW marque, this example's story begins when it was delivered new to a local German Agency "Michel" on May 4, 1939, per the BMW Group Archives. History is unknown until the 1980s when a local Long Island car enthusiast heard some rumors of a trifecta of 327s hiding out with a local G.I. It is said the BMWs made the overseas trip to America after the war with the G.I. who was stationed in Germany at the time. Other notable cars said to have been found within the G.I.'s collection were a Duesenberg and Mercedes-Benz 540K - quite the taste indeed. The BMWs included two 327/328s and one 327, all cabriolets.
Successfully acquiring all three examples, the lesser of the two 327/328s was sold to a collector in Italy. It was then decided that a comprehensive restoration would unfold on the 327/328, lasting two decades, and the third 327 was used as a donor parts car. During the process, each part and piece was tended to, the bodywork was smoothed out, and the mechanicals were thoroughly gone through with touring duties being the end goal. The desirable top-of-the-line inline six-cylinder engine with its three Solex downdraft carburetors and four-speed manual gearbox were prepped and ready for enjoyment, while the four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes provide stopping power. To finish off its restoration, the body was completed with a soft two-tone blue color scheme, while the interior was inlaid with a complementary navy-blue upholstery.
Residing with the same owner for 30 years, who rescued and restored this charming example, the Passport Collection would welcome it into its climate-controlled building in the summer of 2017. A CCCA Full Classic® and a true rarity among pre-war automobiles, this 1939 BMW 327/328 Cabriolet with its decades-long restoration encapsulates BMW's slogan, "Sheer driving pleasure," and would be a welcome addition to one's collection and touring schedule.
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