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28/10/2023 10:31 am
After this 1936 agreement between the two fascist powers, they got increasingly more chummy. Both countries subsidized their auto industry to produce winning sports cars as well as LSRs. It became increasingly obvious that enclosed cars could perform much better and faster than roadsters, even though most sports car events allowed roadsters only. In 1938, the BMW 328 roadster won the Mille Miglia which was the most prestigious endurance event of that era. Italian authorities and the German NSKK (which oversaw racing and funded an automotive technical institute) planned to create a Berlin to Rome competitor to the MM but the war ended that endeavor. BMW just couldn't squeeze any more horsepower out of their 328 (135 hp) so they went to that institute to have an enclosed body for the car. Wind tunnel testing gave the engineers an idea of the shape, but the finished body was too unstable on the track. Italy came to the rescue allowing coach builder Touring of Milan to provide 3 superleggera (light weight) aluminum bodies for the 328 - two roadsters and one coupe. Touring had already built a similar body for Alfa Romeo and it seems like which either country might dominate, it was still a victory for fascism. The coupe performed admirably both in 1939 and 1940 in both the Mille Miglia and Le Mans. The coupe was discovered badly damaged in 1946 and was subsequently restored.
Both models by AUTOart.
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28/10/2023 11:18 am
Thanks Rich for another riveting history on an exciting moment in motor sports and for your excellent photographs; bringing this time into a vivid reality. Your mention of the Berlin to Rome road race immediately brought to my mind the Porche 64 - generally regarded as the first actual Porche - which is often referred to as the Berlin/Rome Porche, (which I hope one day to get a copy of).
28/10/2023 12:21 pm
Once again, you've forced me to read up on & appreciate cars I would otherwise not give a second thought to. I love Autoart's replication of those flip-up skirts. The tiny little hold-down magnets are a nice touch! 😎 😎Â
28/10/2023 10:33 pm
Great post on a very interesting period. Mille Miglia and Le Mans are my two favourite race events. You have added an incentive for me to do a little more research.Â
Chris Sweetman reacted
29/10/2023 1:23 pm
@rich-sufficool Hi Rich
Another interesting post with fabulous photos and showing the superb detail in AUTOart's products.
Just for clarification the BMW Touring Coupe finished 5th in the 1939 Le Mans and 1st in the 1940 Mille Miglia.
There was no Le Mans in 1940 and no Mille Miglia in 1939. The former due to WWII and the latter not run because the Italian Government prohibiting road races in Italy as in the 1938 event there was a accident where 10 spectators lost their lives.
In 1939 there was the Mille Miglia Africana a "just under" 1000 mile race from Tobruk to Tripoli. The winning car was a Touring bodied Alfa Romeo 6C 2500SS driven by Boratto/Sanesi. Â
References:
https://www.touringsuperleggera.eu/en/the-brand/landmarks/
https://forums.autosport.com/topic/68159-mille-miglia-1939/
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Autominologist residing in the Robin Hood County
Nottinghamshire England UK
Rich Sufficool reacted
02/11/2023 2:23 pm
The photo of the Porsche 64 (posted by Charles Rockett) is still the same basic shape today. A truly timeless automotive design. Have never seen this before.
Saint Clair Shores, Michigan
10/11/2023 6:02 pm
AA did a really nice job on their 328s. I have the #109 car. Its way older than what I normally collect, but its just outstanding.
