BMW went back to their roots during the production of a vehicle based largely upon the original 328 sports car.
They have opted to show this luxury vehicle off at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este event in Italy, where the classic car broke the outright speed record. Performance car enthusiasts may remember seeing the 328 win the historic revival challenge in this area recently.
The German team have delivered an aesthetically pleasing vehicle, complete with leather bonnet straps, trademark wheels and the ever popular vertical kidney grille. There are no doors, so drivers will have to climb as gracefully as possible into the cockpit.
Once behind the wheel they will have to adjust to looking through a split windscreen, just like that found on the 1930s motor.
Drivers may remember that the original 328 team used lightweight construction methods. Indeed, fellow car manufacturers must have looked on in wonder as BMW produced a high performance vehicle which weighed just 780kg.
In keeping with the streamlined approach BMW have fitted the Hommage out with parts made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). It is clear that no expense has been spared on the new offering, which also comes complete with exquisite leather upholstery.
Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW Design Chief, said, “Even 75 years ago, the BMW 328 stood for sportiness and agility through lightweight construction. The BMW 328 Hommage car pays tribute to this past and shows how BMW lightweight construction will develop. Carbon is the material of the future.”
“With the BMW 328 Hommage, we wish to pay homage to the passion and inventiveness of the fathers of the BMW 328” Karl Bäumer, CEO of BMW Group Classic, added.
“They created an icon, which is considered a milestone in the history of the automobile.” he continued.
Whether the Hommage will have quite the same impact on the motoring world is doubtful. However, it is difficult to think of another manufacturer who could have seamlessly blended the old and new styles.
Those people who are lucky enough to drive this vehicle will be able to make use of the various retro instruments while listening to their favourite tunes via the inbuilt iPhones. They will have fun pushing the straight six engine to the max and listening to the warble of the sports exhaust.
