1939 BMW 328 Special Competition Roadster
- Engine
- Uprated inline-six, 100 PS
BMW 328 chassis 85414, built in May 1939, is a one-off 'Special Competition' Roadster whose original bodywork and frame were radically replaced in early 1952 by the DiGioia brothers of New York, who fabricated a handmade aluminium body on a tubular steel chassis with lowered suspension, Chrysler front brakes, and an uprated engine. The car was campaigned throughout the 1951 SCCA season and at Watkins Glen by American pilot Edward Joseph Tobin, and subsequently passed through the hands of football coach John Madden before being imported to Germany in 1990. A full restoration was completed in 1995.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €286,250 (≈ $315K)
- 1939 →Factory deliveryOwner in Krnov, Moraviapartial documentation
First registered owner, based in the Moravian town of Krnov. No further detail given about this individual.
- → 1948Acquisition unknownViennese widowpartial documentation
Acquired the car while in Vienna, then emigrated to the United States, bringing the car along before selling it in 1948.
- 1948 →Private saleEdward Joseph Tobinfull documentation
WWII fighter pilot who campaigned the car extensively in SCCA competition, then commissioned a wholesale rebuild with a new tubular chassis and custom aluminium coachwork by the DiGioia brothers around 1952.
- → 1990Private saleJohn Maddenpartial documentation
Renowned American football coach based in California who owned the car after Tobin retired from racing; advertised it for sale in September 1990.
- 1990 →Private saleDieter Aumannfull documentation
Flew to the US the day the car was advertised, purchasing it for $40,000 and importing it to Germany. Commissioned mechanical updates and a full restoration by Bruno Kühnis Oldtimer in the latter half of 1995 at a cost of 79,386 Swiss Francs, and chose a revised, more curvaceous rear body treatment.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownOwner in Lofer, Austriapartial documentation
Car moved from Krnov to Lofer, Austria; no other details provided about this custodian.
Competition
- 1951Sports Car Club of AmericaSCCA 1951 seasonDriver: Edward Joseph TobinMultiple class victories
Tobin campaigned the car across the full 1951 SCCA season, collecting several class wins with the original BMW bodywork.
- 1951International Sports Car Grand Prix, Watkins GlenDriver: Edward Joseph Tobin
Tobin entered this event in 1951; no finishing position is recorded in the prose.
- 1952Sports Car Club of AmericaSCCA European Road Races, Thompson RacewayDriver: Edward Joseph Tobin1st
Took place approximately three months after the Bridgehampton outing; Tobin won this event with the rebuilt car.
- 1952-05-01Bridgehampton raceDriver: Edward Joseph Tobin
First confirmed competition appearance of the car in its rebuilt DiGioia Special Competition form.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1952RestorationDiGioia brothers
The DiGioia brothers undertook a comprehensive rebuild: John DiGioia constructed a new tubular steel chassis and fabricated bespoke handmade aluminium bodywork replacing the original BMW body, while Carmen DiGioia rebuilt the engine and fitted a polished interior. Modifications included lowered suspension, Chrysler front brakes, an uprated 100 PS straight-six engine, and a repositioned radiator. Reportedly only the wheels and engine casing were retained from before.
The original body was listed for sale in Yonkers, New York in January 1952 prior to the rebuild.
- 1990Mechanical
Following importation to Germany, a replacement engine block and new front brakes were installed, and the rear bodywork was revised to a more curvaceous form.
Work commissioned by Dieter Aumann shortly after he purchased and imported the car.
- 1995RestorationBruno Kühnis Oldtimer
A full restoration was carried out during the second half of 1995 at a total cost of 79,386 Swiss Francs.
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