Vehicle Description
For a good many motoring enthusiasts, a discussion of cars from
Communist Eastern Europe involves images of austere, boxy little
machines with smoky two-stroke engines or hastily rebadged Fiats
built with 40-year-old tooling. Therefore, it is a surprise for
some to learn that something as graceful and elegant as this 1952
EMW 327 emerged from the bleak greyscale of the
communist-controlled German Democratic Republic. As one may surmise
from its name, the cars of EMW - Eisenach Motoren-Werk - were not
exactly new designs. The company emerged in 1945, immediately after
World War II, as Germany was divided into the democratic West and
communist East - a division that separated a nation of families,
farms, and businesses for an entire generation. Among the companies
forced to navigate this split was BMW, headquartered in Munich in
the West but losing its largest factory in Eisenach to the East.
The occupying government immediately put this lucrative factory
back online, producing carbon copies of BMWs using whatever parts
and tooling it had on hand. Initially, the Type 321 2-door saloon
and the graceful Type 327 Cabriolet rolled out of the EMW factory
gates. Both models were designed by BMW in the 1930s and remained
virtually indistinguishable from their pre-war Western
counterparts, even wearing BMW badging! The only discernable
difference was that the 321 had front-hinged doors. After
considerable protest from BMW, EMW designed its own badge from
1952. EMW produced approximately 9,000 Type 321s through 1950 when
the replacement Type 340 arrived. While still based on a pre-war
BMW Type 326, the Type 340 wore a rather ungainly but unique
front-end design to differentiate it from its Western brethren.
Despite its awkward looks and pre-war underpinnings, the 340 sold
well enough for EMW, totaling about 9,500. By 1956, EMW had run its
course, and the Eisenach factory was converted to produce the
Wartburg. By far, the rarest and most desirable product of EMW is
the handsome 327 Cabriolet, as presented here. Unsurprisingly, a
luxurious cabriolet was a slow seller in a communist-occupied
nation, with an estimated 500 built between 1945 and 1956. This
1953 model has been treated to an extensive, high-level
restoration, is beautifully presented inside and out, and is
well-suited to participation in concours or touring events. The
exhaustive resurrection was performed by noted enthusiast and
collector Bud Bourassa between 2014 and 2019, and much of the
project is documented with a large stack of photos and parts
receipts. According to his notes, the history is known back to the
1990s, when Mr. H. Moon of Falls Church, Virginia, acquired the EMW
out of Tennessee. Moon attempted to restore the car, but the
project stalled, and he eventually sold it. When Bud discovered it,
the 327 Cabriolet had a plywood dashboard, a Ford flathead V8, and
a rather out-of-place Cadillac steering wheel! Undeterred, Bud
decided to give the EMW a fresh start and restore the car for shows
and driving events, updating it to BMW specifications. Photos on
file show the body was completely stripped, with all metal work
custom-fabricated as needed. Likewise, the chassis was stripped,
componentry rebuilt, and everything refinished to a high standard.
As the original engine was long-lost, Bud sourced an appropriate
replacement in the form of a Bristol BS1 MkII inline-six, serial
number 247. Of course, the Bristol six is a British copy of BMW's
brilliant hemi-head pushrod engine that powered the 327 and
legendary 328. The design was among the spoils of war obtained by
the Brits, and they developed it well into the post-war era. The
BS1 MkII is one of the ultimate developments of the unit and was
used by Stanley "Wacky" Arnolt in the high-performance
Arnolt-Bristol Bolide. While capable of upwards of 150 horsepower
in race trim, Bud Bourassa's notes estimate this car makes a
healthy 135 horsepower. Sadly, Bud Bourassa passed away shortly
after completing the 327 Cabriolet, yet his legacy lives on in this
beautifully finished restoration. The two-tone blue color scheme
suits the elegant Teutonic lines, and the paintwork is excellent
all around, as is the painstakingly restored exterior trim. It
rides on original steel wheels dressed in BMW logo hub caps, chrome
trim rings, and period-style Excelsior sport radials. The cabin
restoration is beautifully executed in light blue leather and navy
canvas for an appealing complement to the exterior. Details include
beautiful blonde wood door caps, a fully lined top, split opening
windscreens, and discreetly added seatbelts for touring. With its
gorgeous baroque styling and superlative performance, the 327
Cabriolet is a versatile and comfortable tourer and the ideal
candidate for events like the California Mille, Colorado Grand, or
Copperstate 1000. This example further benefits from a potent and
desirable Bristol engine, furthering its ability on premier rallies
and tours while also looking the part for the concours lawn. The
EMW is an unusual footnote in motoring history, and this
beautifully restored example will undoubtedly make a welcome
addition to any German-centric collection. Offers welcome and
trades considered For additional details please view this listing
directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7346-1953-emw-327-cabriolet/