Reader Marc N spotted something truly incredible sitting in a clients driveway and he couldn’t believe what he was seeing! Sitting there was a late ’30s to early ’40s BMW 3-Series, one of the ultimate Bavarian finds. I better let him tell you a bit more about the experience! From Marc – I’m an architect slash car guy. Always looking for the great find. Was meeting a new client for the first two me and this was in the driveway. Probably parked for years. I freaked…
I freaked until I got close enough to realize it was a kit car. I didn’t know anyone made such a kit. Cool, but what a letdown! Alright, so finding a replica BMW 328 isn’t the most incredible thing ever, but can you imagine the rush when Marc first spotted it! While it would be amazing to have a genuine one, I wouldn’t mind having this replica. It looks well done and is probably a blast to drive. Plus, you’d get all the looks of driving the real thing without the fear of damaging a six-figure car. Our thanks to Marc for sharing his sighting with us!
If you spot something parked on the side of the road, in a barn, a shed or anywhere else and can take a few photos of it, we sure would love to share it! You can send your sightings and stories to us via email at mail@barnfinds.com.
Josh, if I remember correctly, Franco Sbarro built some 328 “replicas” as well. Not “kit cars,” but fully-assembled.
Since the originals are so hard to find — and expensive when you do — I’d love to have an accurate replica, which this one looks like being. Slip a sweet BMW inline-six under the hood, and it’d be perfect!
Ray, I had no idea. Would love to find one of those for all the reasons you described. That, and a Beck 550, are two replicas I’d be happy to own.
I am a buyer for that replica. Nick at mrinvestor com. !
I did a little history on these here, as there was one on eBay last year: http://germancarsforsaleblog.com/1975-sbarro-328/
Well, hello there sir.
Sorry to have missed that one, the BIN of $25,000 was very reasonable.
First saw a Sbarro 328 at a BMWCCA track weekend at Sebring, probably 1991-92. Looked the business and well put together, it was instantly on many a chapter member’s want list.
There’s no shame in the “k-word” for this one — beautiful and fun! Looks like it would have a wonderful time, carving up those New Mexican or Arizonan mountains back there.
I would love a Beck 904GTS “kit car”. This BMW would be a hoot as well.
Looks like the car and the location where Micheal Coreleone’s Italian mistress went up in smoke. “Da-da-da-dah-dah, da-da”
If this is in Arizona, there was a fellow who mocked up and made a mold of this, from memory IIRC, and I’m thinking close to there. Maybe 5 years ago.
Baroque Angel, site’s gone. I thought he was selling the molds, he made one and put it on a type 1 pan to show I think.
Thought about a full frame and front engine, ah, time and money!
These were real “run what ya brung” racers in their days
Little digging found 10yr. old ad on kitcars.com
Given the setting and the era of car, this looks straight out the famous scene in “The Godfather”. I know the car that exploded was an Alfa Romeo 6C, but still….
Great minds do think alike, if I may say so
My first thought was that it’s a Sbarro…
Haven’t seen one since the 1970s.
It DOES look like an Italian Villa, plotting with Italian fascists Benitos getaway, I would have freaked seeing this as well.
My first thought when I saw the photo was Sbarro – look at the turn signal lights on the fenders. A side view would show the proportions are a bit off as well, but I wouldn’t say no to a Sbarro 328 replica – they used BMW underpinnings so probably ran and drove well! A “European Shay” as it were!
There is an Argentine company that makes a Bugatti that is so good they don’t deserve the name -“replica”. Pur Sang, I believe.
Never have been much of a kit car fan, However this is working on me some. Looks like these were made with good bones. Sort of like the replica AC Cobras. I could stand to own one for a while.
If you’re driving down the right road in a residential neighborhood in Northern Virginia, and you keep your eyes open, chances are quite good you will see a very rare BMW 327 convertible coupe sitting in the driveway, next to a 1920s home. It’s been a while since it last ran, but it’s not for sale.
From the owner: It’s a Sbarro with ’75, 2002 drive train. About 60 made in Switzerland, and ten imported to the States. Adapted for propane because emissions laws were so fierce in 75. Not as softly suspended as the real 2002 I restored and used as a daily driver for ten years.