1937 BMW 328 Mille Miglia Büegelfalte

For the 1940 Mille Miglia, BMW`s design department, Künstlerische Gestaltung, produced this one-of prototype with a streamlined body. It was driven by Count Giovanni Lurani and Franco Cortese and placed 6th overall. At the same race, two similar cars were built by Touring of Milan and a 328 Coupe won the Mille Miglia outright. The name Büegelfalte comes from the ‘trouser crease’ at the top of the fenders which are unique to this car.

The body was fitted to the car in 1940, after it had already contested Le Mans and Mille Miglia as a factory car.

Only one of the streamlined 328s came from BMW in Munich directly while the rest were outsourced to Touring in Milan. The cars finished in Milan are sometimes refereed to the Series II Mille Miglia Roadster. These cars were an exercise in light weight design with many magnesium-alloy pieces such as the body, seat frames and disc wheels. Aditional upgrades included a strengthened Hurth Transmission.

typeRacing Car
released at1940 Mille Miglia
built atMilbertshofen, Germany
body stylistWilhelm Mayrhofer
coachbuilderBMW
production1
predeccesor1936 BMW 328 Roadster
succeccesor1941 BMW 328 Berlin-Rome Roadster
engineInline-6
positionFront, Longitudinal
aspirationNatural
fuel feedthree Downdraft Solex Carburetors
displacement1971 cc / 120.28 in³
power100.7 kw / 135 bhp @ 5500 rpm
specific output68.49 bhp per litre
bhp/weight186.21 bhp per tonne
body / frameAluminum/Magnesium Alloy over Steel Chassis
driven wheelsRWD
wheel typeAluminium-Magnesium Discs
front tiresContinental
rear tiresContinental
front brakesAlfin Drums
rear brakesAlfin Drums
f suspensionIndependent w/Transverse Leaf Springs, Tubular Shock Absorbers
r suspensionLive Axle w/Semi-Elliptical Leaf Springs, Tubular Shock Absorbers
curb weight725 kg / 1599 lbs
wheelbase3400 mm / 133.9 in
transmissionHurth 4-Speed Manual
final drive3.44:1
fuel capacity100 litres or 26.40 gal.
key driversCount Giovanni Lurani, Franco Cortese