The DFW Car & Toy Museum has added a rare BMW 327/328 Sports Cabriolet to its collection, showcasing a pivotal moment in pre-war automotive engineering. This vehicle, part of the Ron Sturgeon Collection, represents the pinnacle of 1930s sports-tourer design, combining advanced engineering with luxurious aesthetics.
Introduced in 1938, the BMW 327 was built on a shortened, boxed, ladder-type chassis from the 326 saloons, featuring a Hurth four-speed manual gearbox and hydraulic brakes, innovations that set new standards for performance and safety. The 327's pushrod six-cylinder engine, capable of 55 bhp, could be upgraded to the 328's 80bhp engine, a design marvel by Rudolf Schleicher that featured hemispherical combustion chambers and inclined valves.
With only 428 units produced before World War II halted production, the BMW 327/328 is a rare find. Its chassis numbers, all beginning with '74', and its performance, including a top speed of 156 km/h as tested by Autocar magazine in 1939, underscore its historical and collector value.
This acquisition not only enriches the DFW Car & Toy Museum's collection but also serves as a bridge to the past, allowing visitors to appreciate the technological advancements and aesthetic beauty of pre-war automobiles. The BMW 327/328's inclusion in the museum is a testament to the enduring legacy of German engineering and its impact on the automotive industry.
