1938 BMW 327 Cabriolet Walkaround

BMW's 327 model (Wikipedia entry here) was produced 1937-1941 prewar, and 1946-1955 postwar in East Germany as the BMW 327 and EMW 327.

Before World War 2, BMW automobiles were built in Eisenach in central Germany, a city that fell into the Soviet occupation zone at the end of the war.  Prewar designs were back in production there fairly soon using the BMW brand name.  But following BMWs postwar start of car making in Munich, it was agreed that the East German BMW would be renamed EMW, the "E" referring to Eisenach.  No 327s were built in Munich, as BMW Munich lacked prewar car tooling, and had to create only postwar designs.

According to the link, 505 327s were built postwar, 1,965 prewar.  Initial models were cabriolets (convertible coupes in American parlance).  A coupé body style was introduced late 1938.  Also in 1938, a more powerful version of the 327 was introduced, having the motor of BMW's famed 328 sports/racing car series.  These are known as 327/28s, and their production numbers are included with those for basic 327s.

I could find no reference concerning who styled those attractive 327s, though Peter Schimanowski designed the BMW 326 that has several styling details similar to those on 327s because the latter is an engineering variant of the former.  So it might well be him.

Today's walkaround car is a for-sale in the Netherlands BMW 327 Cabriolet.  They looked good with their tops raised, so most images below show it in that configuration.

Gallery

Convertible top down.  German convertibly tops usually looked bulky when retracted, as is the case here.

Top raised: looks better.

Side view with top down.  That bulky package detracts from an otherwise attractive design.

When raised, the top has a nice, tidy appearance.  A fixed, metallic top with about the same shape would make for a fine, overall design.

However, the driver's view aft with the top raised is minimal.

There is no trunk lid as such.  Access to any storage space would have to be when the spare tire was lifted or, more likely, behind the carseats.

Wheelbase was a fairly long for a sporty car: 108 inches (2,750 mm).

Classic BMW frontal aspect.