BMW - BMW 328
The BMW 328 was a sports car built from 1936. Based on a tubular frame and independent front suspension familiar on other BMW models, it initially produced 80 horsepower from the 2 litre engine, and capable of 100 mph in standard car production form. Sammy Davis was officially timed at Brooklands to do over 100 miles in the hour. So although a production car, the BMW 328 was used extensively, and successfully in races. The factory continually developed their 328 ending up with the Mille Miglia cars of 1940, one of which, rebadged, was the new Frazer Nash shown after the war. The six cylinder 1971cc engine was in use in many of BMW's models, but the difference for the 328 was the new cylinder head allowing overhead valves in a hemispherical combustion chamber, and a clever valve actuating arrangement capable of sustaining high engine revolutions. The BMW 328 engine was the basis for the post war Bristol 2 litre engine, used in many other marques as well (Frazer Nash, Cooper, AC, Tojeiro. Lotus).
BMW 328 tyre size to use is our 550x16 which is built to L section dimensions and as such larger than what many would think of as a 550x16, and more like a 600x16, which was the original size. It's interesting that when the Chinese Pirelli made a 550x16 for classic cars they chose the same dimensions as our Blockley! There is no advantage to fit radial tyres, or the taxi tyres (175/80R16) that the classic tyre wholesalers were recommending before Blockley came along!
