As reported by RM Auctions
RM Auctions, the world's largest collector car auction house, announced today the consignment of one of the world's most significant pre-war sports racing cars. The one-of-a-kind 1937, BMW 328 Mille Miglia 'Büegelfalte', chassis no. 85032, will make its auction debut at RM's inaugural Sporting Classics of Monaco sale on 1st May, 2010 at the Grimaldi Forum.
"Our Monaco sale will feature some truly outstanding historic cars, but the totally unique nature of this BMW and its fascinating history make it an exceptional opportunity for any collector of significant motor cars", says Max Girardo, managing director of RM Europe.
BMW had been actively involved in sports racing activity in the pre-war years and had enjoyed significant successes with its technically advanced, high-performance 328 model. Chassis 85032 was manufactured in May 1937 as a standard-bodied car for Rudolf Schleicher´s Experimental Department at BMW. The car participated in the 1937 Le Mans with the well-known British driver of the period, A.F.P. Fane, as well as the 1937 Tourist Trophy in the hands of H.G. Dobbs. The following year it participated in the 1938 Mille Miglia and won a notable victory in the 2.0-litre class, again with Fane driving and William James as co-driver. Chassis 85032 subsequently won a Gold medal in the "German Alpenfahrt" with Fritz Roth and "Blasi" Huber, plus an overall win in the same event in 1939. In the autumn of 1939, '85032' was then dismantled by the racing division and the car was significantly re-engineered as an all-new open streamliner destined for use as a factory entry in the 1940 Mille Miglia alongside the two factory fixed-head 'streamliners'.
The beautiful and entirely unique bodywork of '85032' was designed by Wilhelm Kaiser, a very experienced member of BMW`s new design department, "Künstlerische Gestaltung", headed by Chief-Stylist Wilhelm Meyerhuber. The car was built at the factory racing department in Milbertshofen, Germany. The nickname of the car is derived from the creases on the top of the fenders, referred to as 'Büegelfalte' meaning 'trouser crease'. This absolutely genuine and iconic bodywork styling was to become the pattern for a whole generation of post-war sports cars, an influence seen very clearly in cars such as the Jaguar XK120 Roadster.
RM Auctions, the world's largest collector car auction house, announced today the consignment of one of the world's most significant pre-war sports racing cars. The one-of-a-kind 1937, BMW 328 Mille Miglia 'Büegelfalte', chassis no. 85032, will make its auction debut at RM's inaugural Sporting Classics of Monaco sale on 1st May, 2010 at the Grimaldi Forum.
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| (Photo: RM Auctions/Peter Raider) |
"Our Monaco sale will feature some truly outstanding historic cars, but the totally unique nature of this BMW and its fascinating history make it an exceptional opportunity for any collector of significant motor cars", says Max Girardo, managing director of RM Europe.
BMW had been actively involved in sports racing activity in the pre-war years and had enjoyed significant successes with its technically advanced, high-performance 328 model. Chassis 85032 was manufactured in May 1937 as a standard-bodied car for Rudolf Schleicher´s Experimental Department at BMW. The car participated in the 1937 Le Mans with the well-known British driver of the period, A.F.P. Fane, as well as the 1937 Tourist Trophy in the hands of H.G. Dobbs. The following year it participated in the 1938 Mille Miglia and won a notable victory in the 2.0-litre class, again with Fane driving and William James as co-driver. Chassis 85032 subsequently won a Gold medal in the "German Alpenfahrt" with Fritz Roth and "Blasi" Huber, plus an overall win in the same event in 1939. In the autumn of 1939, '85032' was then dismantled by the racing division and the car was significantly re-engineered as an all-new open streamliner destined for use as a factory entry in the 1940 Mille Miglia alongside the two factory fixed-head 'streamliners'.
The beautiful and entirely unique bodywork of '85032' was designed by Wilhelm Kaiser, a very experienced member of BMW`s new design department, "Künstlerische Gestaltung", headed by Chief-Stylist Wilhelm Meyerhuber. The car was built at the factory racing department in Milbertshofen, Germany. The nickname of the car is derived from the creases on the top of the fenders, referred to as 'Büegelfalte' meaning 'trouser crease'. This absolutely genuine and iconic bodywork styling was to become the pattern for a whole generation of post-war sports cars, an influence seen very clearly in cars such as the Jaguar XK120 Roadster.
 |
| (Photo: RM Auctions/Peter Raider) |