BMW 335

The BMW 335 is a six-cylinder sports sedan produced by the Bavarian firm between 1939 and 1941. Commercial success for the BMW 326, introduced in 1936, encouraged a move upmarket. This would involve BMW in challenging the dominance then enjoyed by Mercedes-Benz over a lucrative sector, with their 320 and 340 models. BMW were producing, in their Eisenach plant, the model that would form the basis for the larger car. The 326 had already spawned successful sporting derivatives. The 335 was also to be based on the 326, but with the wheelbase and chassis extended to accommodate a 3485 cc... six-cylinder in-line engine. Despite clearly reflecting the approach taken with existing BMW units, this was an entirely new design. Claimed maximum power output of 90 bhp was lower than the values advertised for comparably sized and powered Jaguars of the period, but the BMW unit reportedly provided better-than-average torque: it achieved full power at only 3500 rpm, which implied longevity and would have made the car particularly suitable as a rapid Autobahn cruiser.
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