Description
We proudly present this beautiful Fraser Nash BMW 328, finished in Silver Birch paintwork with Red Leather interior trim.
Chassis number 85107 was registered 27th January 1938 to the first owner W. I Innes Hawick.
- This fabulous Frazer Nash BMW 328 is a matching numbers car, retaining its original engine and chassis.
- 8th overall in 1938 Paris Nice Trial
- 1of 46 RHD Frazer Nash-BMWs known to survive
- The pre-eminent sports car of its day and an icon of motoring
Between 1936-1939 only 464 BMW 328s were produced of which fewer than 200 are known to exist today. In 1934 AFN Ltd acquired the rights to import BMWs into the UK and these right-hand-drive cars were sold as Frazer Nash-BMWs. In total 48 Frazer Nash-BMW 328s were imported into Britain, its believed all but 2 of these cars survive to this day.
This car is Frazer Nash BMW 328 chassis #85107. The car was delivered from the factory to AFN London on the 2nd of July 1937, finished in white with black wings. Its first owner, Mr. W. I. Innes of Hawick, Scotland, purchased it on the 27th January 1938 whereupon it was given the registration GHX 514. Mr Innes was a keen motorist and he soon had it entered for the Paris Nice Trial in July/ August that year. The event was a testing affair starting with flying laps of the ‘Circuit de Vitesse’ at Montlhery, followed by the long road section down through Grenoble, Troyes, Dijon, Beaune, Bourg-en-Bresse before finishing at the ‘Pont-du-Var just on the outskirts of Nice. The cars were then re-examined before two final tests comprising a low speed / acceleration test and finally the La Turbie Hillclimb. This car not only completed the trial but it came 1st in class in the La Turbie Hillclimb and 8th overall.
The car survived the hostilities of the war safely and photographs show it was back racing at Silverstone in 1952. In February 1963 it was acquired by Alexander Britton of Manchester and 3 further owners are known until it was bought by Peter Lovett in 1989. He kept this wonderful example for 3 years before selling it to Richard Wilkinson who owned the car for 28 years. The car was then purchased by a rally enthusiast who bought the car with the intention of using it for both road and rally. In November 2021 the car was purchased by Rally enthusiast Keith Ashworth who used the car on various rallies including :-
- The West Country Cloverleaf 2022
- Carrera Espana 2022
- Vintage Shamrock 2024
- Generations Rally 2024
This car has been meticulously maintained, there are a huge number of invoices in the history folder totalling to over £136, 500 demonstrating the care and attention the car has received over the years. Specialists such as Marque 328 experts TT Workshops and Steve Stanton carried out much of the work.
Interestingly, this particular 328 made a big screen cameo in the film adaptation of Noel Cowards ‘Easy Virtue’ in 2008 with Jessica Beal, Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas where it rather steals the show.
see the link below, which is the trailer of the film in which you can see the car featuring, also photographs from the film and also of the car on the Carrera Espana rally in 2022.
- details above
The most advanced sports car of its day, the BMW 328 remained competitive for years after the war, a state of affairs that only served to further enhance its reputation, which was out of all proportion to the limited number produced. Generally regarded as one of the very few pre-war models that drives like a post-war car, the BMW 328 is eligible for all the most important historic events including the Mille Miglia, Nürburgring Oldtimer GP and Le Mans Historic.
Please call for more information if this incredible car.
