Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 85377
Engine No. 74412
Body No. 260317
Launched in 1936, the 328 created an immediate sensation by
capturing victory in its inaugural race at the Eifelrennen
N�rburgring while establishing a new lap record for sports cars.
This achievement was especially impressive given BMW's relative
newcomer status as an automobile manufacturer; the Bavarian firm
had concentrated exclusively on aircraft engines and motorcycles
until 1928. The company quickly demonstrated remarkable proficiency
in sports car development, which is reflected in the 328's
forward-thinking engineering approach. At just 780 kilograms (1,720
pounds), the car employed cutting-edge construction methods that
were well ahead of their time, featuring a lightweight tubular
frame, welded floors, and stressed aluminum bodywork-a bold
evolution from the conventional separate body-on-ladder chassis
design typical of its rivals.
The 328's heart was its advanced two-liter inline-six engine,
incorporating overhead valves, hemispherical combustion chambers,
and triple Solex downdraft carburetors. This powerplant delivered
80 horsepower in standard street configuration, while competition
variants could generate up to 135 horsepower. The 328's motorsport
achievements were truly remarkable, especially during its legendary
1938 campaign when it secured victories in more than 120
competitions. That season, the 328 captured class honors in the RAC
Tourist Trophy, the Alpine Rally, and the challenging Mille Miglia.
The subsequent year, BMW fielded three cars at the 24 Hours of Le
Mans, where they swept the 2.0-liter class podium and achieved an
outstanding 5th, 7th, and 9th overall. The pinnacle of the 328's
competition legacy occurred at the abbreviated 1940 Mille Miglia,
where it demonstrated complete supremacy-factory entries claimed
1st and 3rd positions, while privateer 328s completed the triumph
by securing 5th and 6th places.
Despite its revolutionary design and comprehensive racing victories
extending well into the 1950s, the BMW 328 remained an
extraordinarily limited production automobile, with merely 464
examples manufactured between 1936 and 1940. Today, roughly 200
survivors exist, with the majority residing in Europe. This
scarcity, coupled with its pioneering engineering and motorsport
triumphs, has established the BMW 328 as one of the most important
and coveted collector cars from the pre-war period.
According to its accompanying BMW Group Classic Birth Certificate,
chassis number 85377 was originally delivered to BMW dealer Walter
Dingel in Magdeburg, Germany on 6 April 1939. The car departed the
factory painted in white, though the certificate does not specify
the original leather interior color. Dingel himself held
considerable importance in BMW's formative years, having served as
a dealer since the company began manufacturing Dixi-branded
automobiles in the late 1920s. He was additionally an active
motorsport competitor in the early 1930s, participating in various
events including the Alpine Touring race.
While its initial owner and post-war history remain unrecorded,
chassis 85377's documented provenance continues with the remarkable
collection of the late Dr. Matthew Sell, an esteemed physician and
devoted automotive collector. Dr. Sell, who sadly passed away in
2012, was recognized for his methodical approach to automobile
collecting and conservation, possessing a refined appreciation for
the finest examples. The BMW 328 was purchased by Dr. Sell through
renowned restorer John Giles in the United Kingdom and then
received a complete ground-up restoration by Giles's respected TT
Workshops in the early 2000s. Their meticulous craftsmanship
included careful restoration of the aluminum bodywork, and the car
was completed in a sophisticated black finish paired with sumptuous
red leather upholstery.
During Dr. Sell's custodianship, the car earned significant
recognition, including exhibitions at The Quail, A Motorsports
Gathering in 2007, and the 58th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in
2008. Dr. Sell's passion for driving and showcasing this remarkable
automobile was evidenced through his entry in four successive
California Mille events from 2008 through 2011, demonstrating both
the car's reliability and its importance to the Sell family. In
2011, the 328 was also selected for an official BMW photography
session during the introduction of their new concept car, the 328
Hommage, commemorating the Bavarian manufacturer's 75th
anniversary.
After Dr. Sell's unexpected death, his wife Dr. Peggy Ann F. Rupp
kept the BMW within the family collection, maintaining its
treasured position in their family. Today, the car presents as an
authentic example, supported by the correlation between its chassis
number (85377) and body number (260317) which align appropriately
for an early-1939 production BMW 328. While the engine is not the
original unit (74412), it is of the correct type for a 327/8 and
corresponds with an early-1939 production BMW 327. This automobile
embodies both a rare and significant example of BMW's pre-war
engineering excellence while also providing an exceptional means to
participate in distinguished events such as the Mille Miglia
Storica, where it would enjoy a favorable early starting position.
The car's demonstrated durability in long-distance touring
competitions, combined with its treasured quarter-century
stewardship by a single family and expert restoration, creates a
particularly compelling example of BMW's most celebrated pre-war
sports car.
