{{Infobox automobile | image = Emw327-totale-nah.jpg | name = BMW/EMW 327 | manufacturer = {{ubl | [[BMW|Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW)]] | [[Awtowelo|Sowjetische AG Maschinenbau Awtowelo]] | [[Eisenacher Motorenwerk]] }} | production = 1937–1941<br>1945–1955 | predecessor = | assembly = [[Eisenach]], [[National Socialist Germany|Germany]] (1937–1941)<br>[[Soviet occupation zone in Germany]] (1945–1949)<br>[[East Germany]] (1949–1955) | successor = | class = [[Grand tourer]] | body_style = [[coupé|2-door coupé]]<br>[[Cabriolet (automobile)|2-door cabriolet]] | engine = {{ubl|1971&nbsp;cc ''[[BMW M78|M78]]'' [[Straight-six engine|I6]] (327)|1971&nbsp;cc ''[[BMW M328|M328]]'' I6 (327/28)}} | layout=[[FR layout]] | transmission = 4 speed manual<ref name="conceptcarz.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z14263/BMW_327.aspx|title=1938 BMW 327|access-date=2008-02-12|work=conceptcarz.com}}</ref> | length = {{convert|4500|mm|in||abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|1600|mm|in||abbr=on}} | height = {{convert|1430|mm|in||abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|1100|kg|lb||abbr=on}} <br>(measurements approximate) | wheelbase = {{convert|2750|mm|in||abbr=on}} | track = | related = [[BMW 326]]<br>[[BMW 328]]<br>[[Bristol 400]] | designer = Peter Szymanowski }}

The '''BMW 327''' is a medium-sized touring coupé produced by [[BMW]] between 1937 and 1941,<ref name="conceptcarz.com"/> and again produced after 1945. It sat on a shortened version of the [[BMW 326]] chassis.

==Launch== The first 327, launched in 1937, was a [[Cabriolet (automobile)|cabriolet]]. In 1938, this was joined by a [[coupé|fixed head coupé]] version.<ref name=Odin>Odin, L.C. ''World in Motion 1939 – The whole of the year's automobile production''. Belvedere Publishing, 2015. ASIN: B00ZLN91ZG.</ref> The car was shorter and lower than its sedan counterpart, but shared the famous BMW grill and a streamlined form representative of the more progressive designs of the 1930s.

<gallery widths=200 heights=140> BMW 327 fixed head coupe 1939 rear three quarters view.JPG|BMW 327 Coupé BMW 327, Bj. 1940 (2009-10-13) Seite u. Front.JPG|BMW 327 Coupé, built in 1940 BMW 327 (1938) 1X7A0266.jpg|1938 BMW 327 Cabriolet </gallery>

==Technical== {{see also|BMW M78#M78 (327 version)}} {{see also|BMW M328}}

Mechanically, the car utilised the hydraulic brake control, gear box, clutch and front suspension system first seen on the [[BMW 326]], along with the [[live axle]] used on the [[BMW 320]] and [[BMW 328]]. The [[BMW M78]] [[straight-6]] engine was used.<ref name= Odin /> The advertised top speed was {{convert|125|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name= Odin />

A higher-powered model, the 327/28, was offered with the [[BMW M328|M328]] engine.<ref name= Odin /> 569 of these high-powered 327/28 cars were built up to 1940.<ref name=Norbye6869>{{cite book |last=Norbye |first=Jan P. |title=BMW – Bavaria's Driving Machines |year=1984 |publisher=Publications International |location=Skokie, IL |isbn=0-517-42464-9 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bmwbavariasdrivi00norb/page/68 68–69] |chapter=Glory Years: A Tale of Two Liters |chapter-url-access=registration |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/bmwbavariasdrivi00norb/page/68 }}</ref>

==Commercial== Among some enthusiasts, the 327 has subsequently been overshadowed by its more uncompromising sibling, the {{cvt|80|PS|kW|0}} [[BMW 328]] which appeared in April 1936. In its day, however, the 327 was the bigger seller, with 1,396 base engined versions built between 1937 and 1941,<ref name=Norbye6869 /> and significant further production after 1945.

==Afterlife== During the 1930s, [[Eisenach]] was the centre of BMW’s automobile manufacturing. In 1945, Eisenach was occupied by [[United States]] forces. However, the wartime allies had already agreed that [[Thuringia]] would fall within the [[Soviet occupation zone]]. BMW's automobile factory in Eisenach was not fully destroyed, and assembly of the 327 resumed by a new company called Awtowelo, initially from partially completed cars from 1941 and later using stockpiled parts. About 150 post-war BMW 327 were built by Awtowelo before the factory officially changed names to EMW.<ref name="TV1191.33">{{cite magazine | ref = EF91 | title = Krigsveteranen | trans-title = The war veteran | language = sv | magazine = [[Teknikens Värld]] | publisher = Specialtidningsförlaget AB | location = Stockholm, Sweden | page = 33 | date = 1991-05-30 | issue = 11 | volume = 43 | first = Eric | last = Fernblad }}</ref> Clear production figures are hard to obtain, but many of the 327s surviving with collectors into the twenty-first century were post-war products.

After the [[Second World War|war]], it became clear that the Soviets would not return the Eisenach factory to BMW. BMW-branded automobiles produced between 1945 and 1952 were therefore being produced outside the control of BMW headquarters in [[Munich]]. This caused a protracted dispute concerning title to the BMW brand and other assets, but in 1952 it was determined that [[Automobilwerk Eisenach|Eisenach]]-produced models such as the 327s should be badged as EMW (Eisenacher Motorenwerk, Eisenach Motors' Works) rather than as BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke, Bavarian Motors' Works). The BMW's blue and white badge from the [[coat of arms of Bavaria|Bavarian coat of arms]] changed to the EMW's red and white badge from the [[coat of arms of Thuringia|Thuringian coat of arms]].

It is not clear how many of the post war 327s were branded as BMWs and how many as EMWs, but 505 were produced with one or other of the badges.<ref name="InsideBMWFactories58">{{cite book|last1=Robson|first1=Graham|title=Inside the BMW Factories: Building the Ultimate Driving Machine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzBGh9EFUtMC|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzBGh9EFUtMC&q=East+German+BMW+production&pg=PA54|access-date=2013-02-16|date=2008-11-07|publisher=MBI Publishing|location=Minneapolis, MN US|isbn=978-0-7603-3463-8|at=p 58, EMW—Like BMW? The Same, but Different|chapter=Chapter 5: Losing Eisenach, Building Up Munich|ref=Robson}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Some time not long after 327 production had resumed, the body was changed slightly: all EMW 327s and some post-war BMW 327s have a different bonnet line; on the original design, the sides of the bonnet came down to nearly meet the fenderline, whereas later cars have fixed sides incorporating the hood vents. The East Germans also added a crease on the fenders around the wheelwells.

<gallery widths="200" heights="145"> File:EMW 327-2 Coupe 1952.jpg|EMW 327, manufactured after the settlement of the name/badge dispute. Note creases on fenders and smaller bonnet. File:EMW 327 Johannes R. Becher.JPG|This 1952 EMW 327/2 Cabriolet originally belonged to [[Johannes R. Becher]], Culture Minister of the GDR File:EMW 327 engine TCE.jpg|EMW 327 engine; note fixed sides of engine compartment File:EMW 327 dash.jpg|EMW 327 cabriolet interior </gallery>

==References== {{commons category|BMW 327}} {{commons category|EMW 327}} {{reflist}}

{{BMW cars: 1920s to 1940s}}

[[Category:BMW vehicles|327]] [[Category:Coupés]] [[Category:Convertibles]] [[Category:Rear-wheel-drive vehicles]] [[Category:1930s cars]] [[Category:1940s cars]] [[Category:1950s cars]] [[Category:Cars introduced in 1937]] [[Category:Cars discontinued in 1941]]