The Mille Miglia, a legendary endurance race that stretched over 1,000 miles of Italian countryside, stands as one of the most grueling tests of automotive prowess. Among the many remarkable vehicles that have left their tire marks on this storied event, one stands out for its perfect blend of speed, style, and innovation: the BMW 328 Touring Superleggera. Its victory in the 1940 Mille Miglia cemented its legacy as an icon of both racing and design.

 

The Genesis of a Legend

 

The BMW 328 was already a well-regarded sports car by the late 1930s. Introduced in 1936, it quickly garnered acclaim for its advanced engineering, lightweight construction, and nimble handling. However, the 328 Touring Superleggera, a special version developed for competition, took these qualities to a new level.

 

The “Superleggera” moniker, meaning “super light” in Italian, was a nod to the innovative construction technique used by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan.

 

This method involved wrapping a lightweight aluminum body over a steel tubular frame, resulting in a car that was both incredibly light and structurally sound. The combination of the BMW 328’s already potent engine and this lightweight body made for a formidable racing machine.

 

The 1940 Mille Miglia: A Historic Race

 

The 1940 Mille Miglia was unique in several ways. Due to the political climate, it was held on a shorter, closed circuit instead of the traditional route. This version of the race was known as the “Gran Premio Brescia delle Mille Miglia” and spanned 9 laps of a 104-mile course, totaling just over 933 miles.

 

BMW entered several cars in this race, but it was the 328 Touring Superleggera, driven by the talented duo of Fritz Huschke von Hanstein and Walter Bäumer, that captured the spotlight. The car, numbered 70, showcased not only the technical brilliance of its design but also the meticulous preparation by the BMW racing team.

 

Performance and Strategy

 

The BMW 328 Touring Superleggera excelled from the very start of the race. Von Hanstein and Bäumer managed to balance speed with reliability, pushing the car to its limits without succumbing to mechanical failures or errors in judgment. The 328’s 2.0-liter inline-six engine, producing around 80 horsepower, was perfectly matched to the lightweight body, allowing the car to maintain high speeds on the straights and agility through the turns.

 

One of the key factors in the victory was the car’s exceptional handling. The Mille Miglia course, with its mix of tight corners, elevation changes, and long straights, demanded a car that could perform well under a variety of conditions. The 328 Touring Superleggera’s superior balance and responsive steering gave it a distinct advantage over its competitors.

 

Victory and Legacy

 

Von Hanstein and Bäumer crossed the finish line with an average speed of 103.6 km/h (64.4 mph), securing a decisive victory. Their triumph was not just a win for BMW but a demonstration of what could be achieved through innovative design and engineering excellence.

 

The success of the BMW 328 Touring Superleggera at the 1940 Mille Miglia resonated far beyond the race itself. It solidified BMW’s reputation as a manufacturer of high-performance sports cars and underscored the importance of lightweight construction in automotive design. The principles of efficiency and agility championed by the 328 Touring Superleggera continue to influence car design to this day.

 

The BMW 328 Touring Superleggera’s victory at the 1940 Mille Miglia is a testament to the enduring power of innovation and the spirit of competition.

 

In an era when automotive engineering was still finding its footing, Touring Superleggera’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of what was possible paved the way for future advancements in the industry. The story of this remarkable car and its triumph on one of racing’s most challenging stages remains a source of inspiration for automotive enthusiasts and engineers alike.

 

A Symbol of Pure Italianità!

 

Paired with top-performance engines, the Superleggera innovative construction technique creates  formidable performing racing-like machines, a symbol of Pure Italianità! The spirit of Italian elegance, and performance excellence.