A stand-out amoungst pre-war sports cars, the BMW 328
was very versatile, offering superb handling, a great
engine, good performance, while remaining both practical
and durable.
There were few pre-war sports cars that could be more
satisfying to own and drive.
The emphasis was on minimal
weight and aerodynamics - two elements that had been learned
from the company's aero engine and motorcycle programs.
The chassis was constructed by tubular steel backbone,
the bodywork was made of aircraft aluminum - making the
328 not only light but free of corrosion - a delight for
today's car collectors.
Innovation can also be found under the bonnet. The 2-liter
straight-six featured advanced hemispherical combustion
chambers, however to prevent the excessive cost and complexity
of using twin camshafts, the inclined valves were driven
by a single camshaft via cross-pushrods, a very clever
compromise!
The 328's 80 bhp may seem on paper to be a little underpowered,
however this figure should be read in context with the
328's incredibly light weight (830 kg) and aerodynamic
wind-cheating body.
But the best feature of the 328 was its road handling.
The combinantion of a light-weight body and fully independant
front suspension set new standards for the time, offering
levels of roadholding, cornering and handling precision
previously unheard of.
It is no wonder then that many
collectors consider the 328 to be the best sports car
of the 1930's.