This 328 Junior is a very faithful miniature recreation of BMW’s beautiful roadster, a pre-war design icon that also proved dominant in sports car racing. It was created by De La Chapelle of Lyon, France, an independent manufacturer of idiosyncratic motor cars. The company was founded in the 1970s by a family descendant and former Venturi director who started by building Bugatti tributes. In addition to a variety of BMW-, Peugeot-, and Mercedes-powered replicas, roadsters, and prototypes, the company also makes a variety of gasoline-powered “Junior” children’s cars. These pint-size cars are of such high quality that the BMW factory itself has twice requested a limited series of 328s.

Numbered 0091, this 328 Junior is finished in classic white over a tan interior, with details that include a rear-mounted spare, motorsport-style straps on the hood, and an adjustable windscreen. Power comes from a 170-cubic-centimeter Subaru gasoline engine paired with an automatic gearbox with reverse. Hydraulic brakes, with an additional hand brake, bring the little car to a stop. As a finishing touch, it wears “IIA 52114” registration plates, a nod to the famous BMW 328 “Bügelfalte” roadster that won the 1940 running of the Mille Miglia.

Ideal for older children or fun-loving adults, De La Chapelle’s rendition of the iconic BMW 328 is a fitting tribute to a sports-racing legend.