|
|
Chassis:
This is the unique Touring Berlinetta that won its class at Le Mans and subsequently the 1940 Mille Miglia, the last major race before the War. Purists will point out that the race was known as the 'Gran Premio di Brescia delle Mille Miglia' and did not at all follow the familiar Brescia-Rome-Brescia route, but instead consisted of nine laps around a 103-mile circuit. This was done to circumvent the ban on road racing in Italy after a massive and fatal accident during the 1938 Mille Miglia. Nevertheless Huscke von Hanstein's victory has gone into history as one of BMW's finest.
After just two races, the very successful BMW racer was retired as War raged over Europe. Amazingly the unique car survived and was used for many years as a daily driver in Germany. Having covered over 70,0000 miles, it was bought by American enthusiast and well known restorer Jim Proffit in 1980s. He had spent seven years searching for it. He restored the car and from 1990 drove it at many events. Needless to say, BMW took great interest in the car and even built an exact replica as Proffit refused to sell the car.
In 2002 Proffit finally sold his pride to BMW after years and years of negotiating.One of the conditions of the sale was that BMW would spare no expense to restore the car from the ground up to its Mille Miglia winning condition. The painstaking restoration by expert Rene Grosse took he better of four years. Fully restored, the 328 MM Touring Berlinetta first reappeared at the 2006 Mille Miglia retrospective. To celebrate the occasion BMW also unveiled a concept car combining the classic Touring lines with modern mechanicals.
Following its restoration, it has been demonstrated and shown at events around the world.
| Chassis details |
| Manufactured in |
1939 |
| First owner |
BMW |
| Major wins |
|
| Appearances |
|
|
|
Ultimatecarpage.com
> Cars by brand
> Germany
> BMW
Racing cars
> Other Sportscars
