1938 BMW 327 Sports Roadster

Registration no. LFF 116 Chassis no. 74212

Footnotes

This BMW 327 was built in 1938 as a left-hand drive 327/80 and finished in black with red piping. That is the last that is known about the car until it surfaced in California in the 1970s, finished in brown and cream and converted to right-hand drive.

The lady vendor's father, Tony Day, was already the owner of a BMW 320/1, but when he saw this car advertised in Motor Sport magazine in 1974, he fell for its beautiful lines. The car had been brought back to Europe from America and was on sale with Dan Marguiles in Chelsea. Tony bought it for £1,700 and ran the car for a year before consigning it to his garage. Some 20 years later, having retired and with all his children grown up, Tony had the car overhauled mechanically, initially with well-known specialist Mark Garfitt. He then started to compete, and over the next 20 years was a regular at sprints and hill climbs organised by the VSCC and the BMW Car Club Historic Section. Although having to compete in the same class as the lighter and similarly powered 328 meant that victories were rare, Tony and 'LFF 116' were a familiar sight at Prescott, Shelsley Walsh, Brooklands, Goodwood and Silverstone.

As stated earlier, this car started its life as an 80bhp model, courtesy of its 328-type engine, designed by Rudolf Schleicher, which incorporated hemispherical combustion chambers. However, when the BMW surfaced in California, it had been fitted with the lower specification 'head of the 55 horsepower engine. Ever the racer, Tony sourced and refurbished an original specification 80bhp head so the car is now back to its original specification.

This car is set up for competition, fettled for many years by various historic BMW specialists, as the boxes of bills testify. To improve driveability, the gearbox and differential have been modified to incorporated Bristol internals (with added synchromesh) while 'racing' additions include an electronic rev counter, an electric cooling fan, and the obligatory ignition cut-out switch. This is a well-campaigned car, so drives exceptionally well, but the body is as it was bought in 1974 and has a well used, patinated air.

At age 94 Tony has had to hang up his racing boots. However, at a mere 83 years of age, 'LFF 166' still has many active years ahead. The time is come for the next generation to assume custody of this historic BMW: to race the car, to restore it or simply to drive and enjoy it as it is today.