A precursor to the magnificent 328, which would borrow the 1,911 cc inline-six, the twin-carburettor 319 employed an oval-section chassis with transverse leaf-spring suspension at the front, and semi-elliptics at the rear.

The transmission was four-speed with synchromesh on third and top.

A variety of coachwork was available, of which arguably the most attractive was the Sport Cabriolet.

At 5,150 Reichsmark, however, this delectable two-seater was a full 1,000 RM more than the saloon; just 238 examples were produced between 1935 and 1937.

Finished in two-tone Black and Silver, chassis 58158 was delivered from the Eisenach factory to its first owner, Philipp Kraft of Mainz, Germany on 20 June 1936.

By April 1950 the BMW had passed to a Richard Henrich in nearby Frankfurt, and in November 1950 it was registered to one Carl Schiewer—also of Frankfurt, and the last name to appear on the German logbook.

The car was purchased by the consigning owner as an unfinished project in 2018, an...