If cars could talk, this ancient BMW would likely have a few stories to tell. This one is hard to even begin to understand how it ended up here, but this 1937 BMW 326 sedan popped up on Facebook Marketplace in Leland, Illinois of all places with the seller claiming it went into the back of a repair shop in 1960s and hasn’t been seen since. The BMW reportedly belonged to a lieutenant in the Luftwaffe during World War II, which may curtail your interest in owning such a specimen. Regardless, it’s an insanely rare find anywhere, but especially in the U.S.A. Find it here on Facebook Marketplace for $15,000.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader T.J. for the find. Now, I may be a BMW fan, but I can see why this particular barn find has been languishing on the classifieds pages. For one, this is a major undertaking. Parts are not exactly in production for a car like this, even with a manufacturer like BMW involved, which does a fair job of producing vintage parts (it used to be a lot better, however). Finding an engine and transmission for a WWII-era model like this will be a labor of love, and it’s not like this particular car is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars once fully restored. A cabriolet model, however, would be a different story, as those pull respectable money, but even so – you’d still be struggling to break even if you found a drop-top in similar condition.
Then there’s the rest of the car to put back together. Obviously, you can deviate from the playbook a bit with the interior, but would that not potentially reduce the value of the finished product if it’s not one hundred percent OEM correct? Now, not everything is about money – I get that – but to find a buyer for a car like this, I feel it’s going to be someone who is looking at selling it on a global stage to a buyer overseas where this European-market offering would have more appeal. Don’t get me wrong: there is someone out there who wants this ancient BMW. But the price may have to be reduced to account for the need to ship it overseas in addition to the typical unforeseen expenses of restoration.
The other potential hurdle for some buyers may be the historical connotation surrounding this car. History buffs may relish knowing this former officer’s car has a somewhat nefarious history, but for others, there could be little interest in housing such a relic. The 326 was still a significant model for the company in terms of engineering, featuring a ladder-style frame and torsion bar rear suspension. The four-speed transmission even enabled clutch-less shifting thanks to a freewheel on first and second gear. And with 50 b.h.p. on tap, the six-cylinder engine could reach 80 miles per hour. Of course, without the engine or transmission, you’re missing some of what makes this 326 a compelling restoration project, which makes me curious if it will ever be restored. What do you think will happen to it?
Shipped home to Ottumwa, one piece at a time, by a certain corporal, then rebuilt on return from postwar duties.
After a lifetime of cars and the hundreds of people we’ve met and still have on our Christmas card list I can’t think of one of them who’d want this car.
Definitely not worth a proper restoration. Just find an old 6cyl. Manual Z3 and start swapping parts. If the headlights are not in the back seat then snap up a set of’37 ‘38 Chevrolet units, make them work. Finish the interior better than stock and give it sedate two tone paint. Motor on in something way different and even cool.
If there was ever a car worthy of a rat rod conversion, this is it.
It’s unrealistic to keep it original. Maybe drop in a BMW or stateside drivetrain, get it running and licensed. Then decide what to do next.
Make a cool Uber car, painted in two tones and running an SBC. Ach du Lieber!
Why must every transplant be a SBC? There are a lot more appropriate power plants for this BMW!
Okay! We’ll drop a Cummins in it then.
Dieselantrieb
Wow, I didn’t know BMW existed back in the 1930’s
BMW built bomber engines during WW 1! We had a restored one land at Flabob field near us a couple years ago. Huge!
Keith, the BMW logo is supposed to be a stylized propeller blade moving.
The logo came years before the advertising campaign that tied it to an airplane propeller.
BMW started out in cars building Austin Sevens under license. Or rather, Dixi Kraftfahrzeugwerke of Eisenach did and BMW bought them out. Fun fact; they and the American Austins weren’t simply left-hand drive but the chassis and even engines were completely mirrored from the British original, to prevent their parts undercutting Austin’s own spares service in Britain and the rest of the then-pink bits of the world!
BMW built also Racing boats. And industrial engines.
You can see them in the BMW Museum.
The most valuable part was the unusual engine, and someone already got that. A BMW restorer might buy the rest as a parts car.
Junk Yard retail pricing strikes again! Sorry but even an antique BMW roller is not worth $15K maybe $1500. but even that is a bit of a stretch. It will never be a numbers matching car . Seller needs to get his head down from the stratosphere.
I had to wait a few minutes for my headache to subside before typing.
Wait, it’s back now that I just read that again. I’m not sure where to even begin. Have a nice Thanksgiving, George.
Man… throw a 2.5 from the 80’s and a 5 speed manual. Be incredible!
M power!
After WWI , BMW put their motors in motorcycles ( and farm pumps ) It was years later that they started to manufacture cars and split off from the motorcycle side of the shop.
BMW Dixie
Ahoi
In the german magazin “Oldtimer Markt Preise” (more or less “Prices for collector cars”) a BMW 326 4 Door produced between 1936-41 is priced in condition 4 for 17000Euros (condition 1 is 57000Euros). Well. this one is more a condition 5, but find such a car in this condition. Sell it to Europe and someone will restore it…
Best regards,
Till J.
Regardless of its history this is a rare beast and should find a home in Europe for a proper restoration. Original drive train can still be sourced with some determination. To do it any other way would be sacrolidge.
BMW went from this….to the Isetta
1937 is PRE-WWII era thats just lazy writing saying ww2 era
Always remembered the one in the great escape movie with Steve McQueen
I see a bitchin ICON Derelict ride here.