1939 BMW 328 Roadster

It is believed that the car came to California some time in the 1950’s with the current configuration, traversing through several hands in California, being purchased in San Fransisco around 1953 by Mr. Blumefield, who resold it to an unknown buyer.  It eventually came to rest with Frank Moreira around 1955. Moreira worked on the car for 30 years. Smith purchased the car in 1989, and a began a complete restoration.When finished, a year later, it was entered into The Layfaette Concourse d’Elegance. The previous owner, Moreira was there when the car won first place and Smith had him drive it around the winners circle, to wrap up his 30 year love affair with the vehicle. 

One thing can be said about the cars that Smith restored, he built them to drive, and this one is no exception! The list of rallies and miles this 328 has completed in a 10 year period is extensive. Over 13000 miles, it includes a Copperstate 1000, a California Mille, a Colorado Grand,  2 different Great Races, and in 1995, the Italian Mille Miglia as car #60.  Jim also track raced this 328 many times and did quite well, even against much later models. In 2002, he ran CSRG at Sears Point Race Way, running 4th behind a super charged Alfa Romeo and Martin Swig in his new Chrysler, moving away from ALL the super charged MG’s. For a serious driver, if you can imagine it, I’m sure this 328 will more than get you there.

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Chassis #45356

This BMW 328 has the frame of a BMW 303, and original body of a 328.

Research shows, from the BMW Group website, that designed by Fritz Friedler, an "unusual feature of the 303 was it’s newly designed chassis with a light, tubular steel frame, which created a template for later models - including some that would compete in the Mille Miglia." (https://www.bmwgroup-classic.com/en/history/classic-heart/classic-heart-pool/classic-heart/BMW-303.html) The frame was exceptionally light - around 400 lbs and provided extraordinary handling, and formed the basis for nearly every BMW prior to World War II. The 303 frame was used by the 315/1 and 319/1, the predecessors to the 328. They were low-slung roadsters designed specifically for supportive road use and racing, the frame provided improved suspension and responsive steering with a low center of gravity. The 328 replaced the 315/1’s and 319/1’s with a purpose built tubular frame that originated with the 303.

It might also be said that the 303 frame is a slightly finer wall thickness and therefor weighs about 40 lbs less than the 328 frame. It was a common swap when racing the 328's, back in the day, to pull the 328 frame and replace it with the 303 to lighten up the frame and make handling a better.

There is some history that purports that when Loof was building the Veritas he used some 328's frames, suspension, etc. That begs the question what happened to the bodies? One could theorize that the bodies ended up on 303’s, 315’s or 319’s, as they share a common frame. With all that being said we do not know when or why this happened, and have no history of the car otherwise. We only know that the car was purchased by Smith this way.