# BMW 327

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Motor vehicle

BMW/EMW 327 Overview Manufacturer Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) Sowjetische AG Maschinenbau Awtowelo Eisenacher Motorenwerk Production 1937–1941 1945–1955 Assembly Eisenach, Germany (1937–1941) Soviet occupation zone in Germany (1945–1949) East Germany (1949–1955) Designer Peter Szymanowski Body and chassis Class Grand tourer Body style 2-door coupé 2-door cabriolet Layout FR layout Related BMW 326 BMW 328 Bristol 400 Powertrain Engine 1971 cc M78 I6 (327) 1971 cc M328 I6 (327/28) Transmission 4 speed manual[1] Dimensions Wheelbase 2,750 mm (108 in) Length 4,500 mm (180 in) Width 1,600 mm (63 in) Height 1,430 mm (56 in) Curb weight 1,100 kg (2,400 lb) (measurements approximate)

The **BMW 327** is a medium-sized touring coupé produced by [BMW](/source/BMW) between 1937 and 1941,[1] and again produced after 1945. It sat on a shortened version of the [BMW 326](/source/BMW_326) chassis.

## Launch

The first 327, launched in 1937, was a [cabriolet](/source/Cabriolet_(automobile)). In 1938, this was joined by a [fixed head coupé](/source/Coup%C3%A9) version.[2] 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.

		- BMW 327 Coupé

		- BMW 327 Coupé, built in 1940

		- 1938 BMW 327 Cabriolet

## Technical

See also: [BMW M78 § M78 (327 version)](/source/BMW_M78#M78_(327_version))

See also: [BMW M328](/source/BMW_M328)

Mechanically, the car utilised the hydraulic brake control, gear box, clutch and front suspension system first seen on the [BMW 326](/source/BMW_326), along with the [live axle](/source/Live_axle) used on the [BMW 320](/source/BMW_320) and [BMW 328](/source/BMW_328). The [BMW M78](/source/BMW_M78) [straight-6](/source/Straight-6) engine was used.[2] The advertised top speed was 125 km/h (78 mph).[2]

A higher-powered model, the 327/28, was offered with the [M328](/source/BMW_M328) engine.[2] 569 of these high-powered 327/28 cars were built up to 1940.[3]

## Commercial

Among some enthusiasts, the 327 has subsequently been overshadowed by its more uncompromising sibling, the 80 PS (59 kW) [BMW 328](/source/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,[3] and significant further production after 1945.

## Afterlife

During the 1930s, [Eisenach](/source/Eisenach) was the centre of BMW’s automobile manufacturing. In 1945, Eisenach was occupied by [United States](/source/United_States) forces. However, the wartime allies had already agreed that [Thuringia](/source/Thuringia) would fall within the [Soviet occupation zone](/source/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.[4] 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 [war](/source/Second_World_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](/source/Munich). This caused a protracted dispute concerning title to the BMW brand and other assets, but in 1952 it was determined that [Eisenach](/source/Automobilwerk_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 [Bavarian coat of arms](/source/Coat_of_arms_of_Bavaria) changed to the EMW's red and white badge from the [Thuringian coat of arms](/source/Coat_of_arms_of_Thuringia).

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.[5] 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.

		- EMW 327, manufactured after the settlement of the name/badge dispute. Note creases on fenders and smaller bonnet.

		- This 1952 EMW 327/2 Cabriolet originally belonged to [Johannes R. Becher](/source/Johannes_R._Becher), Culture Minister of the GDR

		- EMW 327 engine; note fixed sides of engine compartment

		- EMW 327 cabriolet interior

## References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [BMW 327](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:BMW_327).

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [EMW 327](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:EMW_327).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-conceptcarz.com_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-conceptcarz.com_1-1) ["1938 BMW 327"](https://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z14263/BMW_327.aspx). *conceptcarz.com*. Retrieved 2008-02-12.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Odin_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Odin_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Odin_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Odin_2-3) Odin, L.C. *World in Motion 1939 – The whole of the year's automobile production*. Belvedere Publishing, 2015. ASIN: B00ZLN91ZG.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Norbye6869_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Norbye6869_3-1) Norbye, Jan P. (1984). ["Glory Years: A Tale of Two Liters"](https://archive.org/details/bmwbavariasdrivi00norb/page/68). *BMW – Bavaria's Driving Machines*. Skokie, IL: Publications International. pp. [68–69](https://archive.org/details/bmwbavariasdrivi00norb/page/68). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-517-42464-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-517-42464-9).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-TV1191.33_4-0)** Fernblad, Eric (1991-05-30). "Krigsveteranen" [The war veteran]. *[Teknikens Värld](/source/Teknikens_V%C3%A4rld)* (in Swedish). Vol. 43, no. 11. Stockholm, Sweden: Specialtidningsförlaget AB. p. 33.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-InsideBMWFactories58_5-0)** Robson, Graham (2008-11-07). ["Chapter 5: Losing Eisenach, Building Up Munich"](https://books.google.com/books?id=EzBGh9EFUtMC&q=East+German+BMW+production&pg=PA54). [*Inside the BMW Factories: Building the Ultimate Driving Machine*](https://books.google.com/books?id=EzBGh9EFUtMC). Minneapolis, MN US: MBI Publishing. p 58, EMW—Like BMW? The Same, but Different. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7603-3463-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7603-3463-8). Retrieved 2013-02-16.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

v t e BMW cars: 1920s to 1940s — next » Type 1920s 1930s 1940s 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 straight-4 Dixi 3/15/Dixi 3/15 DA/Dixi 3/15 DA1/ 3/15 DA2/ 3/15 DA4 3/20 309 straight-6 303 315, 319 329 320 321 321 326 326 340 327 327 335 sports car DA-3 Wartburg 315/1, 319/1 328 Legend made in the Soviet occupation zone of Germany and East Germany by the Soviet Military Administration in Germany and Avtovelo

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [BMW 327](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_327) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_327?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.