1937 BMW Roadster Frame off restoration

The BMW 328 Roadster is a machine that established BMW as a world power in Motorsport. Built between 1936 and 1940 the 2 liter sports roadster became a popular choice for drivers who sought a vehicle that was lightweight, responsive, and tough enough to withstand the rigors of sports car racing in the 1930's.

Designed by a team headed by Fritz Fiedler and Kurt Joachim, the 328 is based on a strong but light tubular frame chassis. Attached to it was semi-independent front suspension with a single transverse leaf spring. Out back hung a solid rear axle suspended by leaf springs. The sleek bodywork was constructed of aluminum alloy stretched over a wooden structure. All of this added up to a chassis that was light weight, robust, and simple but effective. But the heart of the 328 is the 2-liter 6 cylinder engine that featured triple Solex carburetors and hemispherical combustion chambers. Power output was 80 horsepower, though more was massaged out for competition models and the numerous hill climb specials that eventually evolved. This sophisticated little engine lived on well past regular 328 production, being built under the Bristol Cars banner post WW2, and it eventually found a place under the bonnet of AC's Ace roadster- the car that became the basis for the Cobra. The 328 proved its worth on the natural road race courses of Europe. It's most famous successes include a 1st 2nd and 3rd in class at the 1939 LeMans 24 Hour race, an overall win at the 1940 Mille Miglia (with special aerodynamic bodywork), and a 1,2,3 sweep of the podium at the 1938 24 Hours of Spa at the grueling Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. It also won countless other races, time trials, hill climbs and endurance events during the late 30's; becoming one of the most successful sports cars of all time.

Black Horse Automotive Services is very proud to be undertaking a complete restoration of chassis number 85095. As you will see in the following pages, the team at Black Horse will be carefully disassembling, rebuilding and restoring this example from the ground up. Our team is researching every detail of the car as it gradually is taken down to its bare frame. Only about 400 examples of the 328 were built and many of the cars vary in detail from one to the next. Cars that were raced may have been modified, crashed and hastily repaired, or fixed on the fly in long distance races with whatever parts were available at the time. Chassis 85095 has some obvious hasty repairs, and other not so obvious. As restorers, it is our duty to preserve originality by using our experience and research to ensure we are rebuilding this car using only authentic parts and materials. Our ultimate goal is to turn out a vehicle that appears just as it did when it rolled off of the factory floor. Check back often to see how this BMW 328 becomes new again through our experienced hands.