BMW 335 Cabriolet by Autenrieth '39

• Walkaround video: Click here
• The most luxurious car built by BMW before the WWII as a Autobahnkurier (like the MB 320A and the 540K), it was reserved for the most powerfull people in Germany was primarily used by ministries in Berlin in the early years, in 1945 with the hurried relocation of officials to Pilsen at the end of the war, the cars often remained in the territory of Bohemia (Czech Republic)
• Same family ownership since 1970. It has full European registration
• Subject of a complete and professional restauration
• Extremely rare opportunity to acquire one
• 90hp, 3.5 liter engine and has a cruising speed of 136km/h
• Total production of 412 cars produced including, about 60 convertibles, there are an estimate of 15-17 cars left 2 of which can be found at Oldtimerfarm!!

Description of the model

The rise of the Bavarian company in the automotive market began to gain momentum, particularly with the remarkable success of the 328 roadster in numerous races, clinching victory after victory. By 1937, it had notched up an impressive 100 wins, including the prestigious British RAC Tourist Trophy. Meanwhile, the 326 model had already garnered its own loyal customer base.

Shortly after the introduction of the 326, attention turned to the elegant 327 coupe and convertible models, admired for their luxury, performance, and comfort. Although the 326, with its four doors, offered comfort, its 2.0-liter engine didn't quite deliver the desired performance. Recognizing this, BMW made a bold leap into the luxury segment, opting for a larger engine and increased comfort.

The prototype of the 335 made its debut at the 1938 London Motor Show, initially branded under the name Frazer Nash for this purpose.

BMW had maintained close ties with England since establishing itself in the small-car market with a version of the English Austin 7. Frazer Nash had been BMW’s English importers since 1934, and post-war, BMW's chief designer Fritz Fiedler, instrumental in the design and development of the 335, collaborated with Frazer Nash’s successor company in London for several years.

The production version, introduced to the German market as the BMW 335 in 1939, was 23 cm (9”) longer than the 326, necessitated by the larger 3.5-liter engine. Sporting a front grille with a raked and curved design reminiscent of the 327, the 335 boasted a larger stature.

While the 327 was available as a coupé and two-door cabriolet, the 335 was offered as a four-door sedan as a coupé,as a two-door cabriolet and two were built as a four door cabriolet. Those bodies were build by Authenrieth, the famous  coachbuilding company in Darmstadt, Germany that existed from the years 1921 to 1964.

Inside the cabin, echoes of the 326 and 327 were evident, with square dials for the speedometer, fuel level, and coolant temperature, along with an elegant clock positioned in front of the front passenger. The longer wheelbase, improved suspension, and brakes contributed to a more comfortable ride compared to the 326, while the 3.5-liter, 90 hp engine with increased torque provided the desired level of performance. Just over 400 units were produced, with 233 being four-door sedans.