Filter

Who knows more about this BMW 319/1?

Our reader Marco Westra is looking for more information about this BMW 319/1 from 1936. The (Dutch) license was PG-30-69. Marco told us the car was owned by a gentleman in the South of the Netherlands.

The 319/1 is not a car we see that often so we expect someone might be able to help. It was the small roadster, a bit more powerful than the 315/1 and the first one that BMW used for racing (please correct us if we are wrong!).

Well Marco, when we saw your photo we remembered seeing this type before at Concours d'Elegance Paleis Het Loo and indeed, after some time on google; we found a few photos. What a lovely car to see and it is the one you are looking for. It looks to be in good condition.

The next task is to find more of its history. We hope one of our readers can help you with that.

 

Originally published: Tuesday January 15th, 2019

 

Publié:
dimanche mars 6th, 2022
Steve Diggins
12 Mars 2022, 19:56
Regarding colours, how about this on a 1914 Napier 'Colonial' seen in their sales brochure?
Lire la suite
David Barker
09 Mars 2022, 14:10
It's a factory body, nearly all 315s and 19s were like that.
Lire la suite
David Barker
10 Mars 2022, 13:17
Edit;
All 315 and 319s; Sorry!
Lire la suite
Steve Diggins
09 Mars 2022, 01:10
I wonder if Fred said this to rankle a few people and some took the bait.. If so the joke is on you.
Lire la suite
Eldon
08 Mars 2022, 16:52
To Fred,
Regarding your comment about blue. I guess you aren't sophisticated enough to appreciate a classic car just because you don't like the colour.
You also must hate any Bugatti that is in their factory light blue livery.
Lire la suite
Joop Terpstra
09 Mars 2022, 19:37
Hear hear bravo Eldon. Blue is beautiful colour specially on a Bugatti or on any french racecar for that matter :-)
Lire la suite
Alfred Marlo
08 Mars 2022, 16:43
Very interesting car. Which coachbuilder created this beautiful 319/1?
Lire la suite
David Barker
07 Mars 2022, 20:01
KENNETH NORMAN SMITH.
This car, that I have restored over the past three years, was used in many sporting events between 1938 and 1940 by its first owner Kenneth Norman Smith. It is a Frazer-Nash B.M.W. 319/55 Sports two-seater, registered EGH 904. I would like to get in touch with him or his family to see whether they have any photographs of the car or any memorabilia connected with it.
I know very little of the man, what I have found out is that in 1934 he went up to Christ’s College, Cambridge to study Medieval and Modern Languages. He joined the Cambridge University Automobile Club and took part in various Inter Varsity events as well as M.C.C. Trials such as the ‘Land’s End’, ‘Exeter’ and ‘Edinburgh’ and the R.A.C. and Royal Scottish A.C. Rallies. He also competed at least three times at Brooklands. He was very successful with the car, winning many Premier Awards as well as the coveted ‘Triple Award’ of the M.C.C. in 1938. This car and a B.M.W. 328, which he also owned, were put into storage in late 1939 with a Mr W.G.Davies who owned a garage in Fleet in Hampshire. Davies apparently sold them some time between 1946 and 1950 having used EGH in the 750 M.C. Aldershot Trial in March 1946. One could assume from that, that Smith was born around 1916/18 and would now be between 88 and 90 years old if he was still alive.
The University Authorities tell me that Smith’s address in 1934 was P.O.Box 525, Salisbury, S.Rhodesia, and the only other address they have for him is; “Wycliffe”, Hales Road, Cheltenham, in 1937. I do have two other addresses for him at various times; Bonner Place, Horley during 1937 when he bought the car through L.C.Bingham Ltd, and Bramble House, Avondale Road, Fleet, Hants in 1939 when he submitted an entry for the Stanley Cup. He graduated B.A. in 1946 and M.A. in 1949, but we have no idea what he did between 1939 and 1946, maybe he was in the Forces or maybe he returned to S.Rhodesia, we just don’t know. The University told me that KNS appeared on the University members list in 1998, but that they have no address for him! Neither do they know his date of birth or what school he attended before going up to Cambridge. They have put a note on his file so that if ever they are contacted by him or his family they will let me know. Meanwhile if any one has any knowledge or recollection of him I would be very grateful if they would share it with me.
Lire la suite
David Barker
07 Mars 2022, 19:56
To Hans Dieckmann..
Hans, you a mistaken. I owned and restored EGH 904 and you can see it in my post of 20th Jan 2019 . It was owned by K.N.Smith you are right about that, it was a 319/55 and I have photos of Smith in the car at many events in the 1930s, he won very many awards with it. I will see if I can post some details. I sold the car to a very nice Italian gentleman and he ran it in at least one Mille Miglia retrospective.
Lire la suite
Walter Vroegop
06 Août 2025, 16:35
Could you please send me some copys of the races your 319/1 took part?
Lire la suite
Andrea Mandel-Mantello
14 Mars 2025, 09:01
I am that "very nice Italian gentleman"..." I still own the car after almost 20 years and am still enjoying it immensely. In that time I have had some work done on the engine and most other mechanical parts. It's an amazing car, particularly compared to other contemporary machines—light, powerful, very comfortable, goes straight like an arrow and has a better turning circle than a London taxi. I'm very grateful to David for selling it to me. Attached are pictures from the 2008 Mille Miglia (Piazza del Campo, Siena) and from the Abruzzo Grand Tour in 2023.
Lire la suite
Hans Dieckmann
06 Mars 2022, 19:14
Blue Car 319/55 Chassis No. 56135, Deliverydate Nov. 1937, Reg./No. EGH904, Firstowner K.N. Smith (Horley). Best Regards
Lire la suite
Marco Westra
27 Janvier 2020, 15:21
Dear David,

It is a 319/1 with matching numbers but I bought the car with that strange nose. The other pictures "paleis het Loo"is the car at this moment with the right wheels and nose. I was wondering if anybody can tell me more.

Kind regards,
Marco Westra
Lire la suite
Marco Westra
27 Janvier 2020, 15:19
Dear Frank,

Thank you for your answer. I already remover the front selection. The pictures from the car at "Paleis het Loo" is this moment. I still have the old nose left.

Kind regards,
Marco Westra

Lire la suite
David Barker
27 Janvier 2019, 11:30
Well Fred whoeveryouare, you might not like the colour that I painted my 319, but at least I am not as rude as you are. I assume you are an Australian, a nation well known for their lack of manners, you bring no credit to your compatriots.
Is it still requirement to have a criminal record to get in?
Lire la suite
FrankWo
18 Janvier 2019, 12:30
It looks for a BMW-(Ludwig)Weinberger 319.1-Ro2/1936. The same body was offered (1935>39) for the BMW 315.1 and the Hansa-1100.
With greetings, FrankWo.
Lire la suite
David Barker
15 Janvier 2019, 11:33
Looks like is not a factory body, the radiator slopes back more than usual and the bonnet sides have chrome strips not mesh panels . It also looks ti have bolt on wheels whereas normal 319s have knock on discs. Maybe it is actually a 315?
I'll see if I can attach a photo of my 319/55 which I restored some years ago and which I sold later.
Lire la suite
Fred
20 Janvier 2019, 12:09
What is it with the bad taste bright blues you poms love, looks awful.
Lire la suite

Ajoutez un commentaire...


Connectez-vous pour poster directement votre réaction

Téléchargez des images de votre réaction