1957 BMW 503 at the Gooding and Company

Gooding and Company - The Scottsdale Auction

1911-1950

1951-1960

1961-1986

1951-1960 Vehicles

1952 Morgan Plus Four

1953 Buick Series 70 Roadmaster

1953 Cadillac Series 62

1953 Hudson Hornet

1953 Jaguar XK120

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4

1955 Ferrari 250 Europa GT

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

1956 Austin-Healey 100-4 BN2

1956 Chevrolet Bel Air

1956 Facel Vega FVS

1956 Lancia Aurelia B24

1957 AC Ace Bristol

1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta

1957 BMW 503

1957 Buick Series 75 Roadmaster

1957 Chevrolet 3124 Pickup

1957 Chrysler 300C

1957 Ford Thunderbird

1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL

1957 Pontiac Bonneville

1957 Porsche 356 A

1957 Triumph TR3

1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 MK III

1958 BMW 507

1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Series

1959 BMW 600

1959 Ferrari 250 GT California

1959 Mercedes-Benz 220S

1959 Mercedes-Benz 300SL

1959 MG MGA

1959 Porsche 356A

1960 Aston Martin DB4

1960 Austin-Healey 3000 MKI

1960 Cadillac Series 6200

1960 Porsche 356B

Information on the 1957 BMW 503

More photographs of the 1957 BMW 503

After World War II, BMW relocated to Munich and marketed motorcycles, returning to automobile production in 1952. In 1954, they introduced their new aluminum V-8 engine which served as a replacement for the pre-war inline-six engine. The new V8 was designed by Alfred Boning and loosely based on the cast-iron American V-8. The engine produced the company with performance stability and provided a means to return to sports car production. At the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW introduced their exciting new models. Alongside the legendary 507 was the 503 Coupe. Designed by Raymond Loewy understudy Count Albrecht von Goertz, the two new models were sensational. Pinin Farina even proclaimed the 503 as the most beautiful car in the show.

Production of the custom-made 503 began in 1956. They were luxurious, had a sporty persona, and expensive. In 1957, BMW introduced the Series II 503 which implemented the 507 V-8 engine offering 140 horsepower and 188 lbs./ft. of torque. This gave the alloy-bodied 2+2 a top speed of 118 mph.

Though a very impressive automobile, both visually and mechanically, just 412 examples of the model 503 were built, of which 139 were cabriolets.

This 1957 BMW 503 Series II Coupe, chassis number 69116, is powered by a 3168cc overhead valve aluminum V8 engine breathing through dual Zenith carburetors. It produces 140 horsepower and has a three-speed manual column shift gearbox. There are four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes and an independent front suspension by upper and lower A-arms.

It was a special order car and finished in the color of Ultramaron Metallic over saddle leather with brown piping. It was imported by Mr. Max Hoffman and eventually sold to an owner in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on March 8th of 1957. In 1962, William Forde purchased the BMW from the original owner in Wisconsin. Mr. Forde was a resident of Rochester, Minnesota. Shortly after acquiring the car, Mr. Forde became an enthusiastic member of the BMW Car Club.

In 1971, the car was put into dry storage where it remained for approximately three decades until Mr. Forde passed away nearly 40 years after his initial acquisition of the car.

The cars next care taker was a Santa Barbara resident who took ownership of the car with it having just 39,000 original miles. Since then, the car has been given a re-paint in its original color of Ultramaron Metallic. Some of the chrome trim was replated; the interior remains intact and original.

In 2012, the car was offered for sale by Gooding & Company at their Scottsdale, Az. auction. The car was estimated to sell for $165,000 - $195,000. The car found new ownership for the sum of $165,000, inclusive of buyer's premium.

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