3-2-1 BMW! - Old Cars Weekly Newsletter

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Car of the Week: 1949 BMW 321 This 1949 BMW 321 may be only example in the United States. In the 1930s, BMW was mainly known in Germany for producing motorcycles and airplane engines rather than automobiles for the relatively small portion of the German population who could actually afford to own one. However, it had begun automobile production in 1929 by building a small car under license from the Austin Motor Co.; this car was superseded by cars of the company's own designs in 1932. When BMW introduced the 321 model in the late 1930s, it was aimed at Germans who were not necessarily wealthy, but economically comfortable enough to afford a stylish sedan or cabriolet. The four-passenger BMW 321 was produced from 1938 until 1941, when all industrial production was overtaken by the German military's needs. That included the BMW plant in Eisenach, where the 321 was manufactured. When World War II ended, Eisenach fell behind the Soviet lines and production of the 321 eventually resumed in 1945 under communist control. The company produced almost 9,000 of the models until 1950, when BMW of West Germany regained control of the BMW name.   See More Make your car our "Car of the Week"  If you've got an old car you really love, we want to hear about it! Click here to submit your ride! It's all in the numbers: Ford's serial numbers 1950-1980 Old Cars' guide to decoding Ford's serial numbers from 1950-1980. Ford Motor Co., as with other car makers, kept serial number information simple, usually with a letter to identify the model being produced, and a simple consecutive numbering system. Up into the 1940s, the primary serial number for a Ford vehicle was almost always the engine number. Starting with the 1928 Model A, the engine numbers were also stamped on the frame or chassis of the vehicles, but these numbers were hard to find with the fenders or bodies attached to the frame over the placement of the numbers. With the first V-8 automobiles in the 1930s, the engine number continued to be the main identifier, with the engine number stamped on the top face of the frame, but now they were in places where they were more visible. For collectors of early Fords, finding the serial number can be a challenge. Many a 1928-1931 Model A owner has bought a car only to find the number on the title might have been based on the engine installed by the factory, and that engine has long since disappeared. Meanwhile, the number on the frame is obscured by the body. To help law enforcement identify stolen automobiles, the National Auto Theft Bureau published annual manuals to help identify certain models, and several volumes were produced to cover the proper registration of vehicles that had engine swaps as nearly each state has different rules and procedures. See More Parts & Projects: Arkansas' Reynolds Collection Down a rarely traveled dead-end gravel road just outside the small town of Centerville, Ark., is what appears to be a shuttered salvage yard overtaken by trees and brush. Appearances can be misleading, and that is the case with this forgotten-looking salvage yard, which has many vintage vehicles and parts available for purchase. W. L. "Bill" Reynolds started collecting worn-out vehicles when he was a teenager. He loved cars and learned how to work on them and soon opened a garage where customers often brought vehicles for repair. As time went on, the collection of worn-out vehicles increased to the point a salvage yard developed. After Reynolds passed away in early 2022, his wife and their son, Doug, continued to operate the yard on a part-time basis without regular hours. Yard maintenance was put on the back burner except for the access lanes, hence its abandoned appearance. We found about 200 vehicles in the yard, mostly from the 1950s through the 1970s. See More Now You Can Look 'Em Up Online! How much is your vintage ride worth? You can now join the Old Cars Price Guide Membership and find out online. Pricing right at your fingertips. Join Now! Subscribe Now to the Highest Frequency Publication for Die-Hard Car Lovers!  Your subscription to  Old Cars includes: All the recent news from around the old car hobby Coverage of all the important collector car auctions and shows Classifieds including expert advice SUBSCRIBE NOW Active Interest Media 2143 Grand Ave. Des Moines, IA 50312 United States View online  You received this email because you are subscribed to newsletters from Old Cars Weekly. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive.