55 bhp, 1,911 cc OHV inline six-cylinder engine, four-speed manual transmission, semi-elliptic leaf-spring front and rear suspension, and four-wheel drum brakes.

Wheelbase: 2,400 mm The Bavarian Motor Works got their start building the Dixi, a charming copy of the popular British Austin 7 Roadster, which was manufactured under license.

The Dixi was initially a low-cost, bare-bones “people’s car”, but it would eventually evolve into models that were increasingly both more powerful and more interesting, and these would pave the way for the high-performance “ultimate driving machines” that followed.

Amongst the early BMW models was the 315 Roadster, which was designed by Peter Szymanowski, who would become the company’s chief of design following World War II.

It grew from 1,490 cubic centimetres at its introduction at Frankfurt in 1935 into the 1,911-cubic centimetre model 319 offered here, which boasted a top speed quoted by the factory of 81 mph, thanks to an engine with two Solex c...