 1956 503 |
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1957 BMW 503 news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Cabriolet Coachwork: Bertone Chassis Num: 69146 Engine Num: 30152 |
| Sold for $165,000 at 2004 RM Auctions. Sold for $165,000 at 2007 RM Auctions. Sold for $231,000 at 2009 Gooding & Company. | |||
This Bertone-bodied 503 Cabriolet is one of the 129 drop-tops built. It was acquired by an American collector in the early 2000s, and at the time, was in excellent original condition. Very little work was required to make it road worthy. It was given a mechanical restoration which turned out to be little more than a meticulous detailing and tune-up. It was evident that the car had been well cared for since new.
The car was given a full re-commissioning, that included taking it down to the bare aluminum. It was painted in white paint with the interior receiving a refinishing in leather. All of the gauges, knobs and interior hardware were re-freshened, and a new top was fitted.
Since that time, the car has been used sparingly and properly serviced. It has been shown on a few occasions.
In 2009, this BMW 503 was offered for sale at Gooding & Company's auction held at Pebble Beach, California. The lot was estimated to sell for $225,000 - $275,000 and offered without reserve. The lot was sold for the sum of $231,000, inclusive of buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2010
 |  |  | Coupe Chassis Num: 69116 Engine Num: 30101 |
| Sold for $165,000 at 2012 Gooding & Company. | |||
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.
By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2012
The BMW 503 was produced from 1956 through 1959 with just over 400 constructed. The design was courteous of Count Albrecht von Goertz, the designer of the BMW 507, Datsun 240Z, and more. The 503 was large and luxurious powered by an eight-cylinder powerplant which sat snug under the hood. The 3.2 liter engine produced 140 horsepower; good enough for a 118 mph top speed.
Introduced to the public at the 1955 Geneva Auto Show, the BMW 503 was positioned to compete with the might Mercedes 300SL roadster. The 503 was constructed of aluminum and introduced many innovative design features such as a transaxle located directly under the front seat and not connected directly to the engine. The top could be removed electrically, a first for a German marque. The chassis was a box-type construction which was suspended by two transverse A-frame arms. The shock absorbers were mounted on the outside of the A-arms which reduced the overall noise during travel.
In the end, the 503 did little to compete with the 300SL due to a hefty sticker price. Production ceased in 1959 after 273 coupes and 129 convertibles were constructed. A BMW 503 played a starring role in the 1971 movie 'The Last Run' starring George Scott.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2010
Introduced to the public at the 1955 Geneva Auto Show, the BMW 503 was positioned to compete with the might Mercedes 300SL roadster. The 503 was constructed of aluminum and introduced many innovative design features such as a transaxle located directly under the front seat and not connected directly to the engine. The top could be removed electrically, a first for a German marque. The chassis was a box-type construction which was suspended by two transverse A-frame arms. The shock absorbers were mounted on the outside of the A-arms which reduced the overall noise during travel.
In the end, the 503 did little to compete with the 300SL due to a hefty sticker price. Production ceased in 1959 after 273 coupes and 129 convertibles were constructed. A BMW 503 played a starring role in the 1971 movie 'The Last Run' starring George Scott.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2010
It goes without saying that post-WWII Germany's economy was not an ideal climate for automobile manufacturers. Luxury carmakers in particular had trouble selling their lavish vehicles to a war-torn public. Reacting quickly to postwar conditions, BMW bought the rights to an Italian microcar and began producing their now famous Isetta. To Westerners, the charming little Isetta has come to stand for pure vehicular fun. The car was viewed differently in Germany, though, where its strong sales were the result of an impoverished public being able to afford little else in the way of transportation. Money made through Isetta sales did, however, manage to keep BMW alive during strenuous times, and the Isetta has rightly become one of BMW's most famous car of the 1950's.
BMW never forgot how to build beautiful and powerful luxury cars, though. The carmaker from Munich continued to manufacture advanced automobiles of high quality for the few who could afford them.
The BMW 501 and 502 were such cars. A luxurious sedan, the 501 was introduced in the early 1950's with six-cylinder power. The 502 followed, with an advanced all-alloy V8. The 501 and 502 were affectionately referred to as 'baroque angels,' a title that referenced their voluptuous and ornate styling. These superb sedans ensured that BMW would not lose its reputation as a builder of fine cars even when the little Isetta was by far the most common BMW, but even the V8-powered 502 did not have the sporting edge of the best prewar BMW products. To help resurrect BMW's image as a purveyor of sports and grand touring cars, the 503 series of coupes and cabriolets was introduced.
The most radical feature of the 503 was its engine. The 3,168cc V8 had its block and heads constructed of an aluminum alloy, making BMW's eight-cylinder gem the world's first all-alloy V8. This was a remarkable innovation to make at a time when BMW was losing money on its luxury vehicles and the brand's most popular car was, by far, the cheap and simple Isetta. The V8 of the 503, as well as in the 502, was an overhead-valve design that, in 503 guise with twin Zenith carburetors, produced a respectable 140bhp at 4,800rpm and 159ft-lbs of torque at 3,800rpm. This engine enabled the 503 to reach 60mph in 12.8 seconds—the same amount of time it takes for the current BMW M6 to race through the quarter mile. The old Bimmer, then, was no road-burner, but it was plenty quick for its time and was very capable as a grand touring machine.
Styling of the BMW 503 was performed by Albrecht Goertz. A German native, Goertz came to the United States in 1936. Goertz began earning some money by performing custom bodywork on cars in the late 1930's, and, when one of his designs captured the attention of prominent U.S. industrial designer Raymond Loewy, he was able to launch a career as a car designer. By 1952 Goertz had opened a studio of his own in New York.
Goertz's talent came through when he dressed the 503's chassis. His taut, elegant design was a welcome relief from the exaggerated curves of the 'baroque angel' sedans, and the 503's clean lines and dignified proportions reflected the car's purpose. The BMW 503 had a shape that clearly defined it as a fine and proper grand touring car that, while it had sporting pretensions, was no finicky sports car.
With clean styling and a marvelous engine, the 503 was marked with the traits of a future classic. Certain circumstances, though, have prevented the car's status from escalating to its deserved position. A distinctly unprofitable car, the 503 has been overshadowed in the view of BMW historians by small, affordable cars like the Isetta and later 700 that were sold in great numbers and therefore attributed to BMW's survival of the German depression. There is also another obvious factor that led to the 503's state of relative obscurity.
The BMW 507 was introduced at roughly the same time as the 503. This lithe roadster undersold the 503, but its svelte good looks made a lasting impression. The significance of the 503 was diminished by the 507, which was both sportier and more attractive than its bulkier brother. The 507 was based on a shortened version of the 503's frame. It used the same 3.2-liter V8 as the 503, albeit with 150bhp. The 507 was even styled by Albrecht Goertz. Despite its similarities to the 503, though, the 507 had a performance edge due to its smaller body and greater power, and since it was intended as a pure sports car with no need for rear seating or any other concessions to practicality, it was free to have a more striking, uncompromising design. The 507 was thus immortalized at the expense of the 503.
BMW produced 413 examples of the 503, 139 of which were cabriolets. The quality and rarity of the 503 have made it a valuable car to collectors, but for most people it remains hidden in the shadow cast over it by the 507.
Sources:
'1957 BMW Isetta 250.' Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum (2002): Web. 10 Jan 2010. http://www.microcarmuseum.com/tour/bmwisetta250.html.
'Albrecht Graf von Goertz.' CarBodyDesign.com (2006): Web. 10 Jan 2010. http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2006/11/20-albrecht-graf-von-goertz/.
'BMW 503.' Motorbase: Web. 10 Jan 2010. http://www.motorbase.com/vehicle/by-id/433/.
Melissen, Pieter. '1956-1959 BMW 503 Coupe.' Ultimatecarpage.com (2008): Web. 10 Jan 2010. http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/657/BMW-503-Coupe.html.By Evan Acuña
For more information and related vehicles, click hereBMW never forgot how to build beautiful and powerful luxury cars, though. The carmaker from Munich continued to manufacture advanced automobiles of high quality for the few who could afford them.
The BMW 501 and 502 were such cars. A luxurious sedan, the 501 was introduced in the early 1950's with six-cylinder power. The 502 followed, with an advanced all-alloy V8. The 501 and 502 were affectionately referred to as 'baroque angels,' a title that referenced their voluptuous and ornate styling. These superb sedans ensured that BMW would not lose its reputation as a builder of fine cars even when the little Isetta was by far the most common BMW, but even the V8-powered 502 did not have the sporting edge of the best prewar BMW products. To help resurrect BMW's image as a purveyor of sports and grand touring cars, the 503 series of coupes and cabriolets was introduced.
The most radical feature of the 503 was its engine. The 3,168cc V8 had its block and heads constructed of an aluminum alloy, making BMW's eight-cylinder gem the world's first all-alloy V8. This was a remarkable innovation to make at a time when BMW was losing money on its luxury vehicles and the brand's most popular car was, by far, the cheap and simple Isetta. The V8 of the 503, as well as in the 502, was an overhead-valve design that, in 503 guise with twin Zenith carburetors, produced a respectable 140bhp at 4,800rpm and 159ft-lbs of torque at 3,800rpm. This engine enabled the 503 to reach 60mph in 12.8 seconds—the same amount of time it takes for the current BMW M6 to race through the quarter mile. The old Bimmer, then, was no road-burner, but it was plenty quick for its time and was very capable as a grand touring machine.
Styling of the BMW 503 was performed by Albrecht Goertz. A German native, Goertz came to the United States in 1936. Goertz began earning some money by performing custom bodywork on cars in the late 1930's, and, when one of his designs captured the attention of prominent U.S. industrial designer Raymond Loewy, he was able to launch a career as a car designer. By 1952 Goertz had opened a studio of his own in New York.
Goertz's talent came through when he dressed the 503's chassis. His taut, elegant design was a welcome relief from the exaggerated curves of the 'baroque angel' sedans, and the 503's clean lines and dignified proportions reflected the car's purpose. The BMW 503 had a shape that clearly defined it as a fine and proper grand touring car that, while it had sporting pretensions, was no finicky sports car.
With clean styling and a marvelous engine, the 503 was marked with the traits of a future classic. Certain circumstances, though, have prevented the car's status from escalating to its deserved position. A distinctly unprofitable car, the 503 has been overshadowed in the view of BMW historians by small, affordable cars like the Isetta and later 700 that were sold in great numbers and therefore attributed to BMW's survival of the German depression. There is also another obvious factor that led to the 503's state of relative obscurity.
The BMW 507 was introduced at roughly the same time as the 503. This lithe roadster undersold the 503, but its svelte good looks made a lasting impression. The significance of the 503 was diminished by the 507, which was both sportier and more attractive than its bulkier brother. The 507 was based on a shortened version of the 503's frame. It used the same 3.2-liter V8 as the 503, albeit with 150bhp. The 507 was even styled by Albrecht Goertz. Despite its similarities to the 503, though, the 507 had a performance edge due to its smaller body and greater power, and since it was intended as a pure sports car with no need for rear seating or any other concessions to practicality, it was free to have a more striking, uncompromising design. The 507 was thus immortalized at the expense of the 503.
BMW produced 413 examples of the 503, 139 of which were cabriolets. The quality and rarity of the 503 have made it a valuable car to collectors, but for most people it remains hidden in the shadow cast over it by the 507.
Sources:
'1957 BMW Isetta 250.' Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum (2002): Web. 10 Jan 2010. http://www.microcarmuseum.com/tour/bmwisetta250.html.
'Albrecht Graf von Goertz.' CarBodyDesign.com (2006): Web. 10 Jan 2010. http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2006/11/20-albrecht-graf-von-goertz/.
'BMW 503.' Motorbase: Web. 10 Jan 2010. http://www.motorbase.com/vehicle/by-id/433/.
Melissen, Pieter. '1956-1959 BMW 503 Coupe.' Ultimatecarpage.com (2008): Web. 10 Jan 2010. http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/657/BMW-503-Coupe.html.By Evan Acuña
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 1957
BMW
models |
| BMW 507 |
| BMW Isetta |
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| BMW: 1951-1960 |
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| Manufacturer Website |
| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| Gooding and Company - The Scottsdale Auction |
| Pebble Beach Auction : Gooding & Company |
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| 1 Series 1600 2002 2800 3 Series 3.0 CS | 3.0 CSL 3.5 CSL 318i 3200 CS 327/328 5-Series | 503 507 6 Series 7-Series 700 850 | Dixi Isetta M Coupe M1 M3 M5 | M6 New Class X1 X3 X5 X6 | Z1 Z3 Z4 Z8 |
| 1956 503 |
