This 1940 BMW 328 Roadster is a Worthwhile Acquisition for the Classic Car Collector
It’s difficult to overshadow the importance of the BMW 328 in the 1930’s. It’s the car that placed BMW as the premier sports car manufacturer in Europe before and after the second world war.
Designed by Rudolf Schleicher and Fritz Fiedler, its secret to success came down to its weight and power. It featured a lightweight tubular frame with an A-frame appearance when viewed from above.
This A-frame design allowed the independent suspension to accommodate the live axle leaf spring rear.
The body was manufactured using a lightweight alloy that was revolutionary for its time and provided the vehicle with extraordinary aerodynamic characteristics.
The car only weighed 780 kilograms (1,719 lbs) in race trim or 830 kilograms (1,829 lbs) in road trim.
The engine in the 328 is a pushrod engine with steeply angled valves and hemispherical combustion chambers. It generated 80 hp from 2 liters which was good for its era but mediocre compared to today’s standards.
The car being sold here underwent a comprehensive restoration in the year 2000 by Fran Roxas and his team in Chicago. During restoration it was discovered that this model was one of a few made with a dry-sump engine which drastically increased the value and desirability of the vehicle.
The fully restored BMW 328 Roadster is now up for sale. It has an estimated value of between $1.5 to 2 million USD. However, you can own this model for a cool $795,000.
