Bayerische Motoren Werke grew from the merger of two aero engine manufacturers during World War I.

The post war rules forbidding the manufacture of aeronautical machinery forced the company to look in a different direction.

Initially concentrating on motorcycles and heavy trucks, the first automobile design was a licensed version of the British Austin Seven, acquired with the purchase of Dixi-Werke of Eisenach with the BMW badge applied for the first time in January 1929.

Larger automobiles followed, including the Type AM in 1932, the Type 303 in 1933 and the Type 315 of 1934.

The 326 introduced at the Berlin Motor Show in 1936 was a significant development as it was the company’s first four door saloon and its two litre, 50 horsepower engine would go on to be the basis of one of the most iconic powerplants of the period either side of the Second World War.

It was the 328 which garnered the most attention however as it featured a new crossflow cylinder head with state of the art h...