Introduced in 1938, the 327 sports-tourer used the shortened, boxed, ladder-type chassis of the 326 saloons. The gearbox was a Hurth four-speed manual unit with freewheel between 1st and 2nd gears, enabling clutch-less gear changes at low speeds, while there were hydraulic brakes all around.

BMW’s pushrod six had by now been enlarged to 1,971cc and developed around 55bhp in the 327, which could also be ordered with the 328 sports car’s 80bhp engine at extra cost. The 328’s engine featured an ingenious new cylinder head, designed by Rudolf Schleicher, which incorporated hemispherical combustion chambers and inclined valves without recourse to overhead or twin camshafts. Instead, the engine’s single, block-mounted camshaft and pushrod valve actuation were retained, thus avoiding an expensive redesign.

Two rocker shafts were employed, one situated above each bank of valves, giving the engine an external appearance almost indistinguishable from that of a twin-overhead-cam design. Downdraft inlet ports contributed to the motor’s deep breathing, and its tune-ability made it a popular choice for British racing car constructors, most notably Cooper, during the 1950s.

The 328-engine produced 80bhp, an exemplary output for a normally aspirated 2.0-litre unit at that time, with more available in race trim. Deploying the 328’s state-of-the-art engine in a more civilized and comfortable package, the 327/328 is relatively rare, with only 428 completed up to 1940 when production ceased. All chassis numbers commence with “74.”

Autocar magazine had got its hands on a 328-engined Type 327 Sports Cabriolet in 1939, achieving the highly creditable maximum speed, for a 2-litre car, of 156 km/h while testing the BMW at Brooklands. A joy to drive, the BMW 327/328 is especially loved by the regularity rally fraternity on account of its unmatched combination, for a 1930s 2-litre sporting car, of a powerful engine and advanced chassis, suspension, and steering.

The Ron Sturgeon Collection