CLASSIC BMW 328 NOMINATED FOR CAR OF THE CENTURY   
        

Woodcliff Lake, NJ ... The BMW 328 roadster, produced between 1936-1940,  has been named one of 25 finalists for Car of the Century by a world wide panel of automotive journalists. The program began in 1996 with an initial list of 700 eligible cars that has been narrowed to the 25 recently announced. 

"To have the BMW 328 as one of 25 nominees for the Car of the Century is a testament to the engineering and design heritage of BMW," said Vic Doolan, president of BMW of North America. "The fundamentals that made the 328 such a success 60 years ago, namely sporty performance, enduring styling and Mille Miglia-winning reliability, remain a hallmark of our marque today." 

The BMW 328 is a milestone in automobile history and was the most successful sports car of the 1930s. Making its competition debut at the famed Nurburgring racetrack in June 1936, the BMW 328 proved unbeatable in international sportscar races in the two-liter class. This high performance
sportscar proved suitable not only for the BMW factory drivers, but also perfect for everyday motoring. The elegantly cowled back wheels, long hood and distinctive dashboard made the 328 an instant hit with sportscar aficionados of the '30s, and helped set styling trends still in evidence today.

The public can nominate 10 additional cars and vote for their favorite nominee by going to the Car of the Century website located at www.cotc-com. An international jury of automotive experts will select five finalists from the possible 35 entries and then vote for the Car of the Century in December.

BMW entered the North American market in 1975. Since then, the company has grown to include marketing, sales and financial service organizations in the United States and Canada; a South Carolina manufacturing operation; a design firm in California; and various other operations throughout the U.S. and Canada. BMW is represented in North America through a network of more than 375 automobile and 190 motorcycle retailers in the United States and Canada. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's headquarters for all of the Americas, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Journalist note: This and all press materials are available from the "Interactive News Bureau" at the BMW website. You can reach it by clicking "Contact BMW" from the main menu (http://www.bmwusa.com).