Boasting outstanding competition history
Estimate £380,000 - £440,000
Registration No: HTU 446
Chassis No: 85411
MOT: Exempt
Imported as one of just 48 right-hand drive BMW 328s from a total production run of 464
A former competitor in Le Mans Legends, the Goodwood Revival and Silverstone Classic with exceptional success at some of the world’s most established historic races
Painstakingly restored to an outstanding condition in 2018 with exceptional care and maintenance since
Long-standing Frazer Nash and BMW provenance, with ownership history dating back to the post-war period
Current and former holder of numerous competition records
“The BMW 328 is legendary. It is acknowledged by car enthusiasts the world over as having a special pedigree, presence and uniqueness. It is definitively among the most attractive, successful and influential sports cars ever built.”—Rainer Simons, BMW 328: From Roadster to Legend
Débuting not on a glittering motor show stand but at a rain swept Nürburgring, the BMW 328 still caused a sensation. Entered for the Eifel Trophy Sports Car Race on June 14th, 1937, and piloted by world motorcycle record holder Ernest Henne, the prototype (chassis 85001) left more than just its Bugatti and BMW 319/1 class opposition floundering. Die Motorwelt commented that “Henne got something incredible from his 2-litre car… He rockets away, down the long straight and into the bends and sweeps of the ‘Ring… his sports car is faster than the entire supercharged competition! Henne is far superior from the start to his victorious finish.” Designed and developed in a little over twelve months, the Type 328 was the brainchild of Fritz Fiedler and Rudolf Schleicher. The ultimate expression of BMW’s contemporary Leichtbau (lightweight construction) philosophy, the newcomer was built around a tubular A-frame chassis. Notably rigid, the patent-protected structure consisted of two large-diameter side members and three rectangular cross members. Equipped with independent transverse-leaf front suspension, a well-located ‘live’ rear axle and rack-and-pinion steering, advances over its Type 319/1 predecessor included improved telescopic shock absorbers and hydraulically operated 280mm drum brakes.
Charged with extracting more power from BMW’s existing 1,971cc straight-six engine, Rudolf Flemming devised an ingenious aluminium-alloy cylinder head that housed hemispherical combustion chambers and symmetrically inclined valves (at an 80deg. angle) but without the need for double overhead-camshafts. Instead, the Type 328’s crankcase-mounted camshaft managed both the inlet and exhaust cycles; the former by a conventional pushrod and rocker action and the latter viâ bell cranks controlling additional shorter pushrods which spanned the head and contacted a second set of rockers. Initially quoted as developing 80bhp at 4,500rpm, the resultant powerplant had great tuning potential (as well as forming the basis of a post-war Bristol engine that continued winning top-flight races into the 1960s). Mated to a compact ZF AK-S15 four-speed manual gearbox and driving the rear wheels viâ a ‘light’ 3.88:1 rear axle, it delivered 100mph performance (a larger Hurth transmission and ‘heavy’ 3.7:1 rear axle were adopted from chassis 85281 onwards). Bodied in a mixture of steel and aluminium over a wooden frame, the Type 328 was styled under Peter Szymanowski, BMW’s head of bodywork design.
For British enthusiasts, the story of the 328 is inextricably linked with AFN Ltd, which concluded an agreement with BMW in late 1934 for the importation of its cars into Britain, where they were sold as Frazer Nash-BMWs. Some were supplied with British coachwork, while others retained German-built bodies, creating a fascinating chapter in the history of both marques.
Chassis ‘85411’ was imported into Britain as a right-hand-drive chassis in 1939. Immediately impounded by HM Customs, it was not released to AFN until 1946, when it was bodied by the works, possibly using a body from another 328. Its early ownership included an enthusiast with associations with the Aldington Brothers at AFN, before the car spent a period in Ireland. In 1976 it passed to a former archivist of BMW’s Historic Section, before being acquired in 1988 by the then Captain and Patron of the Frazer Nash Car Club.
This marked the beginning of an exceptional competition career. Following its acquisition, HTU 446 was extensively campaigned in VSCC and Frazer Nash Car Club events, as well as numerous historic competitions and rallies throughout Britain and Europe. A major accident during the VSCC Pomeroy Trophy at Silverstone in 1996 resulted in a comprehensive rebuild, undertaken largely by Michael Jarrett. The car subsequently returned to competition and has continued to receive sympathetic mechanical and cosmetic attention ever since.
During the early 2000s, HTU 446 was further prepared for competition, gaining twin-leading-shoe front brakes, a half-height windscreen and spare wheel-well cover. A Bristol gearbox was fitted for racing, with the original Hurth gearbox retained and accompanying the car.
Its subsequent record is particularly impressive. HTU 446 competed in the prestigious Le Mans Legends Race in 2005 and 2006, on the Circuit de la Sarthe immediately before the modern 24-hour race. At the Goodwood Revival it achieved the distinction of being the fastest pre-war car in the Lavant Cup, while at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting it secured fourth overall. Silverstone, Brooklands, the FNCC Alpine Trials and the demanding ‘1,000 Miles in 24 Hours’ have also featured in its competition history. Internationally, it has participated in events including the BMW HM Club Rally and Rallye d’Alsace, and is the current and former holder of numerous records.
In 2018, the bodywork was extensively restored and the car repainted by classic-car specialists Mitchell Motors, while the engine was comprehensively overhauled by IN Racing Ltd. It was subsequently set up on Hi Tech Motorsport’s rolling-road dynamometer. Total expenditure exceeded £31,000, with detailed invoices for the restoration works retained on file.
Today, HTU 446 represents an unusually complete blend of provenance, competition history and recent expenditure. Its story encompasses the AFN works, BMW’s historic archives, Ireland and decades of active participation in some of the most prestigious historic events in Britain and Europe. Few BMW 328s can claim such an extensive record of competition use, while even fewer can match its combination of Le Mans, Goodwood, Silverstone and Brooklands appearances.
The enduring appeal of the BMW 328 lies in the remarkable sophistication of its engineering, the beauty of its design and the sheer effectiveness of its lightweight construction. HTU 446 adds a further dimension through its Frazer Nash-BMW identity and exceptionally well-documented competition career. Offered with its original Hurth gearbox and supporting restoration invoices, it presents a compelling opportunity to acquire one of the great pre-war sports cars in a specification and condition suited to continued historic competition or prestigious road use.
Text & Image: H&H Classics
