
The specification of a BMW 328 doesn’t look too innovative on paper – particularly its engine – yet this 2-litre beauty has a strong case for being the first sports car of the modern era.
There were faster, more powerful machines in the late ’30s, but none matched its total package – that brilliant combination of engineering lightness, driving refinement and refreshing style.
Most post-war sports cars owe much to BMW’s compact marvel: William Lyons clearly had a good gander at it before he finalised his Jaguar XK120 a dozen years after the 328’s launch.

The BMW 328’s painted dashboard and white-faced dials helped the German sports car stand out from its British rivals
This olive-green example, the fifth completed in 1937, is the oldest in the UK.
Just looking at its sleek, curvaceous form – streamlined nose, faired-in headlights, shapely rear with inset and exposed spare wheel – it’s easy to see why BMW was swamped with orders after the car’s startling Nürburgring debut.
The leavening undercut of the front wings that swages seamlessly with the valance, and the clever single-piece, rear-hinged bonnet, are typical of the attention to detail throughout this standout design.