Body style: Convertible (spider/spyder, cabrio/cabriolet, drop/open/soft top)
Segment: Roadster & Convertible
Production years: 1932, 1933, 1934
BMW engineers worked hard to develop their first automobile, the 3/20, which entered on the assembly line in 1932 after it ended the license-based 3/15 DA4 "Dixi."
After starting with baby-steps its automobile industry, BMW decided that it was time to walk alone. Its engineers were already made progress in developing a car from the ground up while they were upgrading the Austin 7 model built under license with the name BMW 3/15. The 3/20 might be considered as the first genuine car built by the German carmaker, even though there were obvious connections between the 3/15 and the 3/20.
The exterior was still similarly shaped as the Austin 7, but the carmaker mounted the headlights on a transverse bar mounted in front of the radiator, unlike the British-based model that had them mounted on the engine bay's sides. BMW built the 3/20 as a sedan with two doors, convertible, and roadster. Its chassis was not the same used for its predecessor, and it featured a longer wheelbase. The bodyworks were made by Mercedes-Benz. All models featured front-hinged doors and only one windshield wiper mounted in front of the driver.
BMW offered the 3/20 with either two or four seats inside. Since their inspiration model was the Austin 7, it was still a small vehicle and difficult to use by four grown adults. It was more suitable for a family of four, with two children.
Technically, the 3/20 featured independent suspension in all corners, with a swing-axle in the rear. It was an unusual solution for those times but proved to be very useful. Under the hood, BMW installed an 0.8-liter engine that developed 20 hp mated to a 4-speed manual gearbox.
ENGINE SPECS - 0.8L 3MT (20 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 782 cm3 |
Power: | 14.7 KW @ - RPM 20 HP @ - RPM 20 BHP @ - RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 50 mph (80 km/h) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 3-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Drums |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 17 x 4.5 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 126 in (3200 mm) |
Width: | 61 in (1549 mm) |
Height: | 55.9 in (1420 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 43.3/43.3 in (1,100/1,100 mm) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 1433 lbs (650 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 36.2 mpg US (6.5 L/100Km) |