Introduced in 1938, the BMW 327 sports-tourer utilized the shortened, boxed, ladder-type chassis from the 326 Saloon, which it shared with the 320. However, it featured semi-elliptic rear springing instead of torsion bars. Equipped with a Hurth four-speed manual gearbox, the 327 had a freewheel mechanism between 1st and 2nd gears, allowing clutch-less gear changes at low speeds.
The vehicle boasted hydraulic brakes on all wheels and centralized chassis lubrication. BMW’s pushrod six had grown to 1,971cc, producing around 55bhp in Type 55 form for the 327. Optionally, buyers could choose the 80bhp ‘hemi-head’ unit from the 328 sports car at an additional cost. With the standard engine, it was dubbed the ‘Fast Tourer,’ and with the 328 unit, it became the ‘Sport Cabriolet.’ Production ceased in 1941 after 1,124 BMW 327 convertibles were built.
The BMW 327’s story did not conclude there. Following World War II, the Eisenach factory found itself behind the Iron Curtain. Instead of stripping it bare, the occupying Russians opted to resume production of pre-war designs. Vehicles and motorcycles, bearing BMW’s quartered blue and white emblem, were manufactured until a legal action in 1950 saw BMW regain its trademark rights.
The Eastern Bloc offshoot was renamed ‘EMW’ (Eisenacher Motoren Werke), changing the blue sections of its badge to red. The EMW 327, a continuation of the pre-war BMW 327 coupé and cabriolet, closely resembled its predecessor, except for the front-hinged doors. Production continued until 1956 when the company, now VEB Automobilwerk Eisenach, shifted to manufacturing the new Wartburg, dropping its old BMW-based models.
Source: Bonhams Cars
