BMW 328 Roadster Touring

Vehicle Overview

The BMW 328 Touring Roadster was a limited competition variant of the standard BMW 328, constructed in 1939–1940 in collaboration with Carrozzeria Touring of Milan. It was developed to participate in the planned Berlin–Rome race, an event conceived during the late 1930s as a demonstration of Axis technical supremacy, but ultimately canceled due to the escalation of global conflict. Despite the event’s abandonment, the Touring-bodied 328 emerged as a defining expression of pre-war aerodynamic and structural experimentation. The Roadster was distinguished by its use of the patented Superleggera construction method developed by Carrozzeria Touring. This technique combined a welded tubular steel framework with hand-formed aluminium body panels, creating a structure that was both rigid and lightweight. The application of this method to the 328 chassis resulted in a significant reduction in mass and an optimized exterior surface tailored to airflow efficiency. The body presented flowing, uninterrupted curves, a low frontal area, and a long, tapering tail—all features that contributed to its aerodynamic performance. Mechanically, the vehicle was powered by BMW’s 1,971 cubic centimetre inline-six engine, fitted with a dry-sump lubrication system to withstand prolonged high-speed operation. Power output for the Touring variant was increased to approximately 130 horsepower, surpassing that of the standard production 328. This configuration enabled the car to attain speeds in excess of 200 kilometres per hour, placing it among the fastest road-legal vehicles of its time. In 1940, the 328 Touring Roadster participated in the Mille Miglia endurance race, where it achieved third place overall—an outcome that confirmed the model’s engineering competence and competitive potential. Though its intended race never occurred, the Touring Roadster served as a technological demonstrator and marked an early convergence of advanced aerodynamics, lightweight construction, and competitive engineering in a production-based platform. Only a small number of these vehicles were produced, and their rarity, combined with their historical and technical significance, has ensured their enduring value. The BMW 328 Touring Roadster remains a critical artifact in the development of mid-century sports car design and a testament to the collaborative innovation between German engineering and Italian coachbuilding.