BMW · 1932–1934
BMW 3/20
The BMW 3/20 PS was the first BMW automobile designed entirely by BMW. It was manufactured from 1932 to 1934, replacing the 3/15 model that was initially an Austin 7 manufactured under licence from the Austin Motor Company. The engine used in the 3/20 was based on the Austin Seven engine used in the 3/15, but its crankshaft ran in plain bearings instead of roller bearings and had an 80 mm (3.1 in) stroke, generating a displacement of 788 cc (48.1 cu in). The new engine design also had a water pump and an overhead valve cylinder head. These design changes caused the engine to generate 20 hp, but did not change the taxable horsepower rating of 3 PS, thus giving the model designation 3/20. The 3/20 was larger than the 3/15, with an 84.6 in (2,149 mm) wheelbase and a body 3 in (76 mm) lower than the 3/15. The 3/20 used a backbone frame unrelated to the 3/15's Austin Seven "A" frame. It inherited the 3/15 DA-4's independent front suspension and added a swing axle independent rear suspension, using a transverse leaf spring similar to that used at the front. The standard bodies for the car were built by Daimler-Benz in Sindelfingen. Journalist and engineer Josef Ganz, who had criticized the 3/15 DA-4's suspension system in the magazine Motor-Kritik, was contracted in July 1931 as a consultant in the design of the 3/20 AM-1. Four versions of the 3/20 were built: AM 1, AM 2, AM 3 and AM 4, where AM denoted Automobil München.
Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Predecessor: BMW 3/15 · Successor: BMW 309
All BMW 3/20 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →
Specifications
- name
- BMW 3/20
- Manufacturer
- BMW
- aka
- AM-1, AM-2, AM-3, AM-4
- Production
- 1932–1934
- Assembly
- Germany: Eisenach
- Predecessor
- BMW 3/15
- Successor
- BMW 309
- Class
- City car
- Body style
- four seat saloon, four seat cabriolet, two seat convertible coupé
- Layout
- FR layout
- Engine
- 788 cc OHV straight-4
- Transmission
- 4-speed manual
- Wheelbase
- 2150 mm
- Length
- 3200 mm
- Width
- 1420 mm
- Height
- 1550 mm
- Kerb weight
- 650 kg with saloon body
- Designer
- Alfred Böning
- sp
- uk
- Top speed
- 80 km/h
Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.
More photos
Sources
- Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q796381CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3/20CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1262689057 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BMW_3-20HP_AM_4_(1933)_Classic-Gala_2021_1X7A0137.jpgCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Alexander Migl · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.