1939 BMW 328 Roadster
Lot 263 | The Amelia Auction 2025 Saturday, 08 March 2025
Chassis No. 85377
Engine No. 74412
Body No. 260317
The BMW 328 is an example of unparalleled design and performance among pre-war automobiles. Introduced in 1936, the 328 made an immediate impact by winning its debut race at the Eifelrennen Nürburgring while setting a new track record for sports cars in the process. This was particularly remarkable considering BMW's youth as an automobile manufacturer. The Bavarian manufacturer had focused solely on aircraft engines and motorcycles until 1928. The company demonstrated swift mastery of sports car engineering, which is evident in its innovative approach. Weighing just 780 kilograms (1,720 pounds), the car utilized advanced construction techniques that were years ahead of their time, including a lightweight tubular frame, welded floors, and stressed aluminum bodywork—a significant departure from the traditional separate body-on-ladder chassis design common among its contemporaries.
At the heart of the 328 was its sophisticated two-liter inline-six engine, featuring overhead valves, hemispherical combustion chambers, and triple Solex downdraft carburetors. This powerplant produced 80 horsepower in standard road-going form, while racing versions could develop up to 135 horsepower. The 328's racing record was nothing short of extraordinary, particularly during its dominant 1938 season when it claimed victory in over 120 events. That year, the 328 won its class in the RAC Tourist Trophy, the Alpine Rally, and the ever-challenging Mille Miglia. The following year, BMW entered three cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where they finished 1-2-3 in the 2.0-liter class and an impressive fifth, seventh, and ninth overall. The pinnacle of the 328's racing career came at the shortened 1940 Mille Miglia, where it achieved total dominance—factory teams secured first and third places, while privately-entered 328s completed the triumph by finishing fifth and sixth.
Despite its groundbreaking design and extensive racing achievements extending well into the 1950s, the BMW 328 remained an exceptionally rare automobile, with only 464 examples produced between 1936 and 1940. Today, approximately 200 survivors remain, with most located in Europe. This rarity, combined with its innovative engineering and competition successes, has elevated the BMW 328 to one of the most significant and sought-after collector cars of the pre-war era.
According to noted BMW 328 historian and author of the seminal 328 reference book BMW 328 From Roadster To Legend Rainer Simons, chassis number 85377 was delivered new to BMW dealer Walter Dingel in Magdeburg, Germany on 6 April 1939. The car left the factory finished in white, though records do not indicate the original leather upholstery color. Dingel himself was a significant figure in BMW's early history, having represented the marque since it started producing Dixi-branded cars in the late 1920s. He was also an accomplished motorsport participant in the early 1930s, taking part in numerous events, such as the Alpine Touring race.
While its first owner and post-war whereabouts remain undocumented, chassis 85377's known history resumes in the significant collection of the late Dr. Matthew Sell, a distinguished physician and passionate automotive enthusiast. Dr. Sell, who sadly passed away in 2012, was known for his meticulous approach to automobile collecting and preservation, with a discerning eye for the most exceptional examples. The BMW 328 was acquired by Dr. Sell through renowned restorer John Giles in the United Kingdom and subsequently underwent a comprehensive nut-and-bolt restoration by Giles' esteemed TT Workshops in the early 2000s. Their exacting work included careful attention to the aluminum coachwork, and the car emerged finished in an elegant black exterior complemented by a rich red leather interior.
Under Dr. Sell's stewardship, the car achieved notable recognition, including appearances at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in 2007, and the 58th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2008. Dr. Sell's enthusiasm for driving and sharing this exceptional motorcar was demonstrated through his participation in four consecutive California Mille events from 2008 through 2011, a testament to both the car's reliability and its significance to the Sell family. Also in 2011, the 328 was featured in an official BMW photo shoot for the unveiling of its new concept car, the 328 Hommage, celebrating the Bavarian company's 75th anniversary.
Following Dr. Sell's untimely passing, his wife Dr. Peggy Ann F. Rupp maintained the BMW in the family collection, preserving its special place in their family's history. 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. It represents not only a rare and important example of BMW's pre-war engineering but also offers a desirable way to enjoy prestigious events such as the Mille Miglia Storica, where it would command an advantageous early starting position. The car's proven reliability in long-distance touring events, combined with its cherished quarter-century custodianship by a single family and expert restoration, make this a particularly compelling example of BMW's legendary pre-war sports car.