A 1939 BMW 328 Roadster Comes to RM Sotheby’s Munich Auction

The BMW 328 arrived at the Nürburgring in 1936 and promptly announced itself as something magnificent. Victory in the 2.0 litre class came within its first competitive outing, and what unfolded was not mere success but the establishment of an icon, a car that would define the pre-war sports car era with elegance and speed in equal measure.

Nine decades later, one of just 464 examples built during its production run comes forward at RM Sotheby's. This 1939 Roadster has been comprehensively restored, its restoration consuming more than 1,700 hours of meticulous work between 2020 and 2021. The result is a machine dressed in burgundy leather upholstery beneath a black convertible roof, ready for both the concours circuit and historic competition events where such machines belong.

Engineering and Restoration

What distinguishes the 328 across the decades is the purity of its engineering. Its six-cylinder engine, developed by Rudolf Schleicher, paired innovative hemispherical combustion chambers with a crossflow design that became legendary among engineers. The car emerged from a moment when German automotive ambition fused engineering rigour with competitive spirit, producing something that transcended mere machinery to become a symbol of an era.

The restoration undertaken between 2020 and 2021 honoured that engineering heritage while bringing the car to present-day standards. Every detail received attention: the mechanical systems, the coachwork, the finish. The investment of more than 1,700 hours reflects not simply labour but the collaborative expertise required to resurrect a machine of such historical significance. The burgundy leather upholstery and the black roof speak to an owner's sensibility, choices that enhance rather than diminish the car's character.

A Car for Competition and Collecting

The rarity of the 328 lies not only in the number of examples built but in what has survived. Of those 464 cars, many vanished into history; those remaining carry the weight of that scarcity. This particular example, having undergone its meticulous restoration, is eligible for entry to prestigious concours events and historic racing programmes. It is, in other words, not a museum piece awaiting admiration through glass but a machine ready for the road and the circuit, for the owner who understands that a great car is meant to be driven.

The auction takes place at RM Sotheby's The Munich Auction 2026, the house's dedicated sale for significant motorcars held in the city where BMW's engineering legacy took root. The car will be offered without reserve, a statement of confidence in its significance and its appeal to collectors worldwide.

The Munich Auction 2026 takes place on 20 November. Registration to bid is available via RM Sotheby's official channels.

Key Facts

• Year: 1939
• Production Run: One of 464 examples built
• Restoration Hours: More than 1,700 hours
• Interior: Burgundy leather upholstery with black convertible roof
• Sale: RM Sotheby's The Munich Auction 2026, 20 November
• Reserve: Offered without reserve

The Simply Luxury View

The 328 occupies a singular place in automotive history, a pre-war sports car that competed successfully and influenced generations of design that followed. Its rarity, combined with its competitive provenance and engineering significance, makes it precisely the kind of car that serious collectors pursue. What elevates this particular example is not merely its survival but the calibre of its restoration and its readiness for active use.

For the collector of historic machinery, a 328 represents an entry point to the golden age of German engineering, a moment before the post-war world reshaped everything. That it comes to market restored, documented and eligible for historic events means its next owner can experience it as its makers intended: not as a monument but as a machine.

Official brand website: rmsothebys.com

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