Few cars carry the traces of an interrupted history as clearly as this BMW 328 Sports two-seater Frazer Nash, a car whose story begins in the late 1930s and would only reach its final form after the war. The BMW 328 was introduced in 1936 and was immediately regarded as a technical tour de force: designers Rudolf Schleicher and Fritz Fiedler created a lightweight tubular A frame chassis with independent front suspension and leaf springs at the rear, paired with an aerodynamic, hand formed lightweight alloy body, impressive for a time without access to wind tunnels. The distinctive six cylinder engine, with its steeply angled valves and three Solex downdraft carburettors, produced around 80 horsepower from just 2 litres, while the car weighed no more than 780 kilograms in racing trim.
This particular example, from 1938, was among the last six 328 chassis built and was shipped to England in the autumn of 1939, to A.F.N., the company of Archie Frazer Nash and at that time the importer of BMW cars, with the intention of fitting it with a purpose built streamlined body. The outbreak of the Second World War, however, put these plans on hold for years, the car was impounded and stored by British customs and did not resurface until 1946. When the plans were finally realised, it was former RAF Spitfire pilot and Frazer Nash works racer Dickie Stoop who commissioned an envelope body from coachbuilder Leacroft of Egham, complete with aviation inspired details such as aircraft type bonnet clips and a flush fuel filler, along with a cockpit tailored specifically to his compact frame. In 1949 Stoop and his friend Peter Wilson entered the car in the 24 Hours of Spa at the Circuit National in Spa Francorchamps, where they finished 6th in class and 12th overall, a result that firmly established the sporting reputation of this chassis.
Following a thorough and uncompromising restoration, in which the car was returned to this condition down to the smallest detail, this BMW 328 has since covered only twenty kilometres. The result is a car that presents today as though fresh from the factory, the white paintwork is flawless, the black leather interior shows no sign of use whatsoever, the original Veigel instruments look as though they were fitted only moments ago, and even the spare wheel in the tail and the chrome trim remain in unused condition. The car is currently registered in the Netherlands.
Built in 1938, this BMW 328 falls comfortably within the years recognised by the Mille Miglia storica for entry, a status carrying particular weight given that this very model won the Mille Miglia outright in 1940, a competitive pedigree into which this Frazer Nash bodied 328 fits directly. For the collector seeking a technical tour de force with a history as rare as it is colourful, presented in a condition that could scarcely be bettered, this BMW 328 represents a unique opportunity. Contact our sales team for further information, to arrange a viewing, or to discuss the possibilities for entering the Mille Miglia.