This 1936 BMW 329 is one of approximately 1,179 examples built during two years of production and is said to have been delivered new to its first owner in February 1936 before it was first registered in Germany that September. After a 2013 overhaul of the 1,911cc OHV inline-six, the car was purchased by its current owner in 2020 and imported to France. Finished in blue and beige, the car also features a four-speed manual transmission, Type 326-style hydraulic drum brakes, independent front suspension, twin Solex carburetors, a 12-volt electrical system, a dark blue convertible top, and beige leather interior upholstery. This 329 is now offered in Rennes, France, with invoices dating back to 2000 and French registration.
Introduced in early 1936, the 329 was the final evolution of the 303 platform that debuted in 1933 as BMW’s first six-cylinder car and first to carry the “kidney” grille. The 329 carried over the 2,400mm-wheelbase underpinnings of the preceding 319 but shared the front styling of the larger 326. Bodywork for the 329 was limited to either a two- or four-seat cabriolet configuration.
This example’s four-seat, four-window cabriolet bodywork wears an older repaint in blue and beige, and various imperfections are noted in the finish. Features include split chrome bumpers, twin grilles, a centrally hinged hood with horizontal grilles on each side, trafficators flanking the windshield, a driver-side mirror, and a dark blue convertible top that can be stowed under a matching boot.
Painted steel wheels match the body color scheme and wear bright hubcaps, while 5.50-16 Excelsior tires are mounted at each corner. A matching spare wearing Avon rubber is secured in a recessed compartment at the rear of the car. Type 326-style hydraulic drum brakes have been fitted in lieu of the factory cable-operated drum brakes, while emergency brakes at the rear wheels are actuated mechanically via a hand lever.
The cabin is trimmed in beige leather over the front bucket seats, rear bench, and door panels, while tan square-weave carpeting covers the floors. Features include wood dash caps, roll-up side windows, door pockets, and a lockable glovebox. A tear is noted in the lining of the soft top beneath one of the bows.
The three-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of a beige-painted dash that houses a 140-km/h speedometer and gauges monitoring oil pressure and coolant temperature as well as a later VDO fuel-level gauge. The five-digit odometer shows 71k kilometers (~44k miles), and true mileage is unknown. A Hemo Trip Taeller rally odometer is fitted under the dash.
The 1,911cc inline-six features overhead valves driven via a chain-driven in-block camshaft, four main crankshaft bearings, and twin Solex downdraft carburetors. The electrical system was converted to operate on 12 volts in 2000. An overhaul of the engine in Germany in 2013 included machining of the block and grinding and polishing of the crankshaft, while a mechanical freshening in 2022 included rebuilds of the carburetors and replacement of the fuel pump and battery. An oil change was performed in April 2024.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission and a solid rear axle. Independent front suspension incorporates a transverse leaf spring and lower wishbones with integrated single-acting shock absorbers, while rear suspension utilizes semi-elliptical leaves and double-acting lever-arm shocks.
The vehicle is being sold on its French registration. The sale does not include a title, as the vehicle is registered in a country that does not issue titles for vehicles.
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