1957 BMW 507 Roadster

The BMW 507 was built with the United States market in mind. It was styled by a New York-domiciled German ex-patriot and built in Germany. The 507 was a reflection of North American taste yet held true to its European origin.

Austrian-born entrepreneur Max Hoffman was the US importer of various European makes during the early 1950s. He convinced BMW that they should create a sportscar that could go toe-to-toe with Mercedes-Benz's 300SL.

Count Albrecht von Goertz, an independent industrial designer who had worked for Raymond Loewy, was tasked with styling the car. This was his first assignment for designing an entire car. The car was given a robust chassis countered by aluminum bodywork, and a 150 horsepower engine. Top speed was achieved at 125 mph with zero-to-sixty taking just 11 seconds.

Hoffman had suggested a $5,000 price target, but the 507 sold for much more, at $9,000. This was more than double the cost of a Ford Thunderbird or Chevrolet Corvette. Even the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was cheaper. This made the BMW 507 an exclusive automobile, and total production would reflect this fact, with just 252 examples being produced.

Chassis 70038 was sold new in Germany in May of 1957 to agent Auto-Fels of Mannheim. The car was delivered in Ivory white paint and was equipped with a Becker Mexico radio and manual antenna, as well as a hard top.

Dr. Jack Frasher of Greenville, SC purchased the car in the early 1980s from Dr. K.W. Ballentine of Fayetteville, NC. In 1986, ownership of the car passed from Frasher back across the Atlantic into the ownership of Ulrich Sauer. In 1999 it was sold during the Techno Classica and shortly after this returned to the United States. A short time later it was presented by Brooks/Bonhams at a Florida auction. At the time it still wore its Ivory paint scheme, red leather interior, and was in need of a restoration. It soon was treated to a professional restoration. It was given reproduction Rudge 'knock-off' wheels, metallic blue paint scheme, and gray leather interior. It was completed in time for the Gauthier Classic in 2003, followed by the Colorado Grand in 2004.
Around 2004 or 2005, it was sold to Stephen Block of Moraga, CA. In 2006, it was acquired by its present owner.

In 2011, the car was offered for sale at the Quail Lodge presented by Bonhams auction. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $1,002,500 inclusive of buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2011