When it came to BMWs in the 1930s, the Frazer Nash BMW 328 was the pinnacle of the brand's offerings. Along with the 326 sedan, BMW added it to its lineup in 1936. Before then, the company had only offered the 315 sports and the 319 sedan. The German automaker only started making another popular of its model, the 327-touring coupe, as well as the 321 compact in 1938. Notably, these car numbers were purely model series identifiers and had nothing to do with cubic capacity or performance.

RELATED: This Is How The Iconic 507 Model Almost Bankrupted BMW

While the 328 sports car is an icon some old-timers might recognize, few people today know about its seller in Britain, Frazer Nash. Founded in 1924, it was the main importer of German cars into Britain Pre-World War II. The company had built such a close relationship with BMW before the war that, beginning in 1934, the German automaker it allowed to import, assemble, and sell its right-hand drive vehicles under the Frazer-Nash BMW brand.

Among those vehicles was the 328 sports. Although it made its debut in 1936, it wasn't imported to Britain by Frazer Nash until 1937. Here are 10 reasons why we love the Frazer-Nash BMW 328 sports car.

10 The Best Pre-Word War II BMW

1937-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Sports-Roadster-(Blue)--Front-Right
bonhams.com

The 328 sports car by Frazer Nash BMW was the top-of-the-line model of the BMW 300-series. In the BMW range, only the 327-touring coupe, which had the same engine as the 328's, can even get considered a competitor.

1938-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Sports-Roadster-(Blue)---Interior-&-Dashboard
bonhams.com

It marked the beginning of BMW's status as a leading producer of high-performance automobiles and is today regarded as the best BMW produced before World War II.

9 The Sporty Classic Design

1937-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Roadster-(white)---Front
Artcurial

The Frazer Nash BMW 328 possesses one of the most classic stylings ever – it's a rolling piece of art that attracts admiring attention from passers-by everywhere. At the front is a gorgeous, long, slender hood with two flared arches embellished with leather straps on the sides.

1937-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Roadster-(white)---Rear
Artcurial

The car greets onlookers with a pair of headlights and presents a powerful brand image with the slim and tall BMW-style Kidney grille sweeping up from the front bumper. The flared and extended wheel arches covering the rear wheels and a sloping trunk hosting the spare wheel add an air of tremendous grandeur at the rear.

8 Its Rarity

1937-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Sports-Roadster-(Blue)---Front-Left
Bonhams
 

The 328 sports car is extremely rare as it had a brief production run. Made at the Eisenach factory, production lasted from 1936 until 1940, when the outbreak of World War II halted all operations.

RELATED: 10 BMWs That'll Soon Be Worth A Fortune

1939-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Sports-Roadster-(Silver)---Rear
Bonhams
 

By then, BMW and Frazer Nash had only sold around 426 units. Today, only around half are still in existence, and they go for insane amounts at auctions.

7 The Special High-Performance Engine

1937-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Roadster-(white)--80Hp-BMW-Engine-1

Artcurial
 

What set the Frazer Nash BMW 328 sports apart from other cars of the era was its robust, high-performance engine. The 2.0-liter inline six-cylinder motor could make 80 hp, but being very tunable, BMW's competition division could extract an extra 10 horsepower.

1938-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Sports-Roadster-(Silver)---BMW-80-Hp-Engine
Bonhams
 

Though the power isn't very impressive by today's standards, it was more than enough for the time and allowed the 328 to reach a top speed of 93 mph.

6 The Most Modern Sports Car From Its Era

1939-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Sports-Roadster-(White)---Front-Left
Bonhams
 

Thanks to BMW's vision and ambition, the 328 turned out a very technically advanced, high-performance model. Many people consider it the first truly modern sports car. The body designed by Peter Szymanowski, who became BMW's chief of design after World War II, was very streamlined to reduce drag.

1938-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Sports-Roadster-(Silver)--With-Red-Interior
Bonhams
 

It also featured cutting-edge features in engine design, including a hemispherical combustion chamber boosting power and efficiency. Also, the Rudolf Schleicher-designed engine featured new light alloy cylinder heads. So ahead of its time, Bristol AC adapted the powerplant for use in its postwar vehicles, including the Bristol 400 and Cooper Bristol Formula 2 racers.

5 Formidable In The Racing Scene

Frazer-Nash BMW 328
Via Classic Motor Hub Auctions

BMW's 328 sports roadster got unveiled for the first time as a prototype at the Nürburgring's annual Eifelrennen event on 14th June 1936. Ernst Henne piloted it to victory in the annual motor race in the 2-liter class, besting a field that featured single-seat racing vehicles. This was just the start of its racing success. In 1937, it would take home 100 class victories, including the RAC Tourist Trophy, International Eifelren, and Austrian Alpenfahrt.

RELATED: 10 Classic BMWs That Are Worth Every Penny

Frazer-Nash BMW 328
Via Classic Motor Hub Auctions

Class victories in the grueling Mille Miglia, the Tourist Trophy, and the Alpine Rally were among the accomplishments of 1938. The following year, it finished first in its class at Le Mans and won the RAC Rally. The 1940 Mille Miglia was another of its outright victories. Even after the war, the 328 still continued to demonstrate its superiority on track.

4 A Lightweight Performer

1939-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Sports-Roadster-(Silver)---Front
Bonhams
 

BMW engineers, under the direction of Chief Engineer Fritz Fiedler, designed the Frazer Nash BMW 328 using lightweight materials. It featured a tubular frame and a lightweight aluminum body.

1939-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Sports-Roadster-(Silver)---Rear-Left
Bonhams
 

Unlike many competitors who went with a supercharged engine, BMW armed the 328 with a lightweight 6-cylinder engine for even more weight saving. The result was 1800lbs curb weight, making the 328 Sports roadster fast and agile. No surprise it was so dominant on the circuit.

3 Highly-Collectible

1937-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Sports-Roadster-(Blue)---Front-Right-With-Roof-Up
Bonhams
 

There's no denying the Frazer Nash BMW 328 is one of the most collectible cars in the history of the Bavarian brand. Selected as one of 25 contenders for Car of the Century in 1999 by a global panel of automotive journalists, it is highly sought after by vintage car collectors.

1938-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Sports-Roadster-(Silver)---Front-Left
Bonhams
 

Both its historical significance and rarity have resulted in high bidding at auction. A 1939 example fetched $781,299 at auction in 2016, with another going for an even more impressive $825,000 the following year. Demonstrating its continued popularity among collectors is this 1937 Frazer Nash BMW that got auctioned for £636,600 ($781,299) at Bonhams' 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed sale.

2 An Engaging Vintage To Drive

1939 Frazer Nash BMW 328 Sports Roadster silver sports car
Bonhams
 

The Frazer Nash BMW 328 sports car is very exhilarating to drive. It's perhaps the only pre-war model to drive like a post-war car. The engine delivers power smoothly to the rear wheels via a very engaging ZF four-speed manual gearbox with its transmission allowing the driver to take it easy and not sweat every gear change.

RELATED: The Hair-Raising Story Behind Elvis Presley's Iconic BMW 507

1937-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Sports-Roadster-(Blue)---Front
Bonhams
 

It has good handling because of its 1800-pound curb weight, a front swing axle with transverse leaf spring, and rear live axle. It isn't speedy by modern standards. But for those with a penchant for vintage cars, the roadster style affords a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the road and take in the scenery while cruising at your own pace.

1 Its Different Striking Body Styles

1937-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Sports-Roadster-(Blue)---Side-With-Roof-Up
Bonhams
 

Although the 328 BMWs in existence today have different body styles, the roadster was the most common. That’s especially for the cars Frazer Nash built and sold in Britain.

1937-Frazer-Nash-BMW-328-Cabriolet-BY-Wendler- (silver)---Front
secret-classics.com

Many of the Frazer Nash BMW 328 Cabriolets had a more elegant style and extra opulent features because they were custom-made. As with many early European automobiles then, they were crafted by bespoke coachbuilders like Wendler, Drauz, and Glaeser.