Aesthetically Aerodynamic: The 1940 BMW 328 MM Kamm Coupe

In an earlier visit to the Petersen Automotive Museum's Aerodymanics exhibit, we came across this stunning example of aerodynamic design, the 1940 BMW 328 MM Kamm Coupe.  We thought it was high-time that we pull these photos from our ever-growing archives and share this one-of-a-kind beauty with you...As always, the Petersen's curators do a superb job of providing more detail on this vehicle.  "BMW built five 328 Kamms Coupes to compete in the 1940 Mille Miglia, a high-speed, thousand-mile race that favored cars with good aerodynamic qualities.Its model designation is derived in part from the name of Wunibald Kamm, the German aerodymanics expert who determined that the aerodynamic qualities of a vehicle would improve significantly if the body was sharply truncated at a precise point behind the rear wheels.The Kamm's body, which tapered toward the rear and then truncated, minimized drag and gave rear seat occupants the headroom that was lacking in other streamlined designs of the era.

Unfortunately, all five cars were hidden in Germany during World War II and later lost.  This accurate replica was painstakingly created by BMW engineers and independent craftsmen with the help of advanced computer modeling."It isn't often that I see a car that has long-since disappeared become completely resurrected (from scratch!) from the original designs.  Hats off to BMW who chose to dedicate time, talent, and resources to this gorgeous example of fine aerodynamic design.  As the only one of its kind, we're thankful to the Petersen for securing its display so automotive nuts like us could drool over and dream about it!