BMW 327

I photographed this car at the Northern Classic Car Show in the G-Mex Centre, Manchester in August 1989.

It's a 1952 BMW 327, and was in the area set aside for the auction that was held on the second day of the 2 day show. The BMW 327 has a 1,971cc straight-6 engine, and production started in the BMW factory at Eisenach in 1937 but was suspended in 1941. After the war Eisenach fell within the Soviet occupation zone and the factory was taken over by the Soviet Awtowelo Company which resumed production of the BMW 327 in 1946. The BMW company, based in Munich in the American occupation zone, objected to the vehicles being badged as BMW cars and after protracted negotiations it was agreed in 1952 that Eisenach produced versions of former BMWs would be marketed as EMWs - Eisenacher Motoren Werke as opposed to Bayerische Motoren Werke. These models bore a badge that was essentially a red and white version of BMW's blue and white one. Production of the EMW 327 finally ended in 1955. There's nothing about the auction cars in the brochure of the event but I noted at the time that it was a 1952 model, and as it has a blue and white badge it must be one of the last ones made before the name changed to EMW.