The British like to think they invented the modern sports car. It may be true that Bentley and Jaguar had sports cars that they raced but no cars on the road in the early to mid 1930s were reliable, safe, but more importantly scientifically aerodynamic.
Then in 1936, the German auto company BMW came along and took the whole industry by storm. The BMW 328 was not only a great racer, it proved to be a great car for every day motoring as well.
In 1938 the car raced and won in the Mille Miglia which means 'thousand mile' in Italian. The following year the car won the RAC Rally and in 1940 the 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupe (show in the above image) won the Mille Miglia race again with an average speed of almost 104mph. In 2004, the car became the first to win the original Mille Miglia and the modern-day version of the race. Thanks to great German engineering, an aerodynamic design, and perfect 6-cylinder reliability, the BMW 328 was named one of the top 25 finalists for Car of the Century by a panel of automotive journalists.
Aside from its unbelievable achievements, the car still looks fantastic. It's simple yet elegant, it has a solid form, streamlined body, and little details that are subtle but distinct. The car looks like it could be a victorious war machine based on beauty alone.
To find one today would take plenty of time, more motivation, and even more money. They're extremely rare and could cost you a pretty penny depending on the car's heritage and condition. If you find one, let me know.
Thanks for reading!
~M/o "Stay up to Speed"
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