Collection of BMW Race Cars Makes West Coast Debut at America’s Car Museum

By D. Randy Riggs | 5.10.18 7:50 AM

Tacoma, WA — LeMay – America’s Car Museum (ACM) is the first to display the BMW Car Club of America Foundation’s “Heroes of Bavaria — 75 Years of BMW Motorsports” collection on the United States’ West Coast when it opened Saturday (May 12). The 17 iconic race cars will celebrate and detail BMW’s storied motorsports legacy in a one-year exhibit at ACM.

One of the most successful sports cars of the 1930s, the BMW 328. Photo: BMWCCA

“As proven by the extraordinary collection of race cars within the Heroes of Bavaria exhibit, BMW vehicles have been tried and tested on race tracks for the last 75 years,” said America’s Automotive Trust CEO Adam Langsbard. “We’re thrilled to be the first to display this unrivaled collection on the West Coast and share BMW’s many motorsports accomplishments with the hundreds of thousands of guests who visit ACM each year.”

As part of the grand opening festivities, ACM Master Collector Peter Gleason moderated a live discussion with notable BMW figures including:

• Bill Auberlen, the winningest BMW factory race car driver in history

• Erik Wensberg, longtime motorsport and M Brand Manager for BMW of North America

• Tom Plucinsky, BMW Group Product and Technology Department Head

The Heroes of Bavaria exhibit celebrates the history of BMW racing by featuring noteworthy race cars beginning with the infamous 328. The two-liter 328 — arguably one of the most successful sports cars of the 1930s — is just one example of BMW’s motoring legacy, having achieved a class win in the celebrated Mille Miglia in 1938 and an overall victory in 1940.”

Other notable vehicles will include the very first 1961 700 RS, a 1972 3.0 CSL Groupe 2 Rally Car — the only one of its kind — and a 2000 Williams Formula F1 driven by Ralf Schumacher in eight total races, achieving three podium finishes.

The full collection, which rounds out the 17 total vehicles, also includes: