BMW 328
This BMW weighs a mere 830 kilograms. It was designed with motor racing in mind and indeed, all superfluous items, such as bumpers, have been left out.
The cutaways under the headlights allowed cool air to flow over the engine and brakes – a practical solution which also saved on materials. The aerodynamic coachwork was constructed out of a special metal alloy formed around a tubular frame.
The BMW 328 was developed as a prestige project for the Third Reich and had to be ready before the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. The prototype for the 328 won the two-litre sports car class at the Eifelrennen in 1936. The BMW 328 ultimately notched up more than 140 race- and rally wins, including the Mille Miglia in 1940. The BMW 328 is a true all-rounder: a sports car, circuit-racer and endurance-racer all in one. Therefore it is one of the most significant sports cars of all time.
The Bayerische Motoren Werke originally built aircraft engines. The company later started building motorcycles and moved onto cars in 1928.