1939 BMW 327 Cabriolet

Because this car is a 2+2 and a cabriolet it weighs several hundred pounds more than a 328, and acceleration will be leisurely

by Raymond Milo

BMW’s first six-cylinder engine was launched in 1934, and formed the backbone of the company’s racing legacy. A modified version of the new powerplant was developed by Rudolf Schleicher and would stay in production until 1961, first as a 1.2-liter then as a 2-liter. It was a pushrod engine which duplicated the advantages of a DOHC layout, without the weight. In 1936 the Schleicher engine was dropped into the new type 328 which went on to become a very versatile sports car in the late 1930s. The 327 was the Grand Touring version of the sporty new 328, designed to accommodate the customer who wanted the style of the 328 with four seats and a less aggressive driving experience. Smart and graceful, it came with a radio and was very easy and comfortable to drive. The detuned version of the engine was even more reliable. In the three-year production run from 1938-40 there were only 482 type 327s made. The number remaining is surely small. Offered here is a white...