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1958 BMW 507

Maximilian (Max) Edwin Hoffman was the New York-based importer of luxury European automobiles into the United States during the 1950s. He was instrumental in the creation of several sports cars that included the Porsche 356 Speedster, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL, and the BMW 507 roadster.

In the immediate post-war era, BMW built a reputation around its economy cars like the Isetta, a microcar that was instrumental in its survival. Seeking to boost its image, the company began offering a luxury model in the 1950s equipped with a new dual-carbureted V-8 engine. It was given an advanced box-frame chassis designed by BMW engineer Fritz Fiedler using as many pre-existing components as possible. It utilized a shortened frame from the 503, from 111.6-inches to 98-inches, and its overall height measured 49.5-inches. The suspension was comprised of parallel double wishbones with torsion bar springs and an anti-roll bar at the front, while the rear used a live axle with torsion bars, a Panhard rod, and a central, transverse A-arm. The Alfin drum brakes measured 11.2-inches and power brakes were optional. Later examples of the 507 had Girling disc brakes in the front.

The aluminum alloy overhead-valve V-8 engine displaced 3168 cubic centimeters, with two Zenith 32NDIX two-barrel carburetors, a chain-driven oil pump, high-lift cams, pushrod-operated overhead valves, polished combustion chamber surfaces, and a compression ratio of 7.8:1. The 150 (metric) horsepower produced by the engine was sent to the rear wheels via a close-ratio four-speed synchromesh manual transmission. The standard final drive ratio was 3.70:1, but optional ratios of 3.42:1 and 3.90:1 were available. The Lightweight alloy coachwork was penned by Count Albrecht Goertz and its sensual curves made it among the most elegant open sports cars of the 1950s. The early body designs were by Ernst Loof but were unappealing to Hoffman, so von Goertz was tasked with the design. The body was almost entirely hand-formed of aluminum which resulted in each vehicle being unique in detail.

The BMW 507 was introduced in the summer of 1955 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. It was an exclusive automobile with just 252 examples (plus two prototypes) built between 1956 and 1959, of which 34 were exported to the United States. 11 examples were sold with an optional hand-fabricated removable hardtop. A total of 202 examples are known to have survived.

The BMW 507 was a roadster version of the BMW 501 and BMW 502 saloons, and with its $8,988 price tag in the United States, it fit between the more expensive Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster and the lower-priced English imports such as Triumph and MG. Hoffman had hoped to sell the 507 in the $5,000 range, but high production costs increased the price, ultimately reaching $10,500. While the Isetta had provided a much-needed influx of financial resources for BMW, the 507 did the opposite and the company lost money on each 507 built. Had it not been for a capital infusion from Herbert Quandt, BMW would have been forced into bankruptcy. The new BMW 700 and 'New Class' 1500 models eventually helped the company recover financially.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster
Chassis number: 70192

Anything truly iconic is a matter of taste reaching a critical mass. It involved timing and the willingness to take a chance. It would be fitting, therefore, that such an iconic car would attract such icons as owners.

It wouldn't start that way for the 507. Missteps in the manufacturing of the car would cause the price of each car to go well above estimated price levels. Originally conceived by the automobile importer Max Hoffman to fill a gap between the expensive Mercedes-Benz 300SL and the cheaper Triumphs and MG sports car, the new BMW design was to sell for about $5,000. The trouble in production would end up driving the price up to $9,000 and upwards of $10,000 in the end. This was driving BMW to the brink of bankruptcy. It was costing the company money with each 507 built.

The trouble would actually start even before the design would begin to roll out of the factory. Initial designs would be rejected by Hoffman. This would force BMW to bring in Albrecht von Goertz. Goertz would end up designing both the 503 and the 507.

Despite the early disagreements in design, the 507 would first make an appearance with the 503 in the 1955 Frankfurt auto show. Compared to the 503, the 507 had a lightness and an elegance that would attract the eye of many. It was a rare blend. Not only was the car's design attractive and appealing from just about any angle, the car's performance was just as attractive. Given its size and the tuned 3.2-liter V-8 engine that was capable of producing 150 horsepower, the 507 certainly wasn't underpowered like the Triumph and MG and it wasn't to cost as much as the 300SL. At least it wasn't supposed to cost as much.

The extra cost would come from the design. Goertz would be involved in every area of the car's design. He would take the best components available and would have the best technicians trying to fit all of them underneath the stunning, yet simple body.

The frame would be constructed from large rectangular tubes. It would come with an independent front suspension and a three-point live rear axle. Both the front and the rear suspensions would use torsion bars, but the front would incorporate torsion bar springs. The 150 bhp from the V-8 would be delivered to wheels via a ZF four-speed manual gearbox. Braking action for the powerful car would come from larger than normal Alfin drums.

What would result from Goertz's constant attention to detail would be debt issues and a truly iconic car that would unfortunately have a much smaller audience than originally intended. Some of the car's fans would include such names in racing as Hans Stuck, Georg Meier and Jon Surtees. However, the car would also attract another lesser-obvious fan. Elvis Presley would also be associated with Cadillac convertibles, but while stationed in Germany, Presley would come to notice the car and would be given one by BMW for his own personal use.

While the 507 would threaten BMW's existence it would set the company on a new course in the minds of the public. Its willingness to produce such attractive and progressive designs would give new life to the company. Instead of the roadster for the common man, circumstances would end up producing a roadster for only a very few. It was practically propitious BMW wouldn't be able to make all of the 507's it intended for its iconic design, and rare numbers, would make for a truly desirable car.

And one of those desirable 507 Roadsters would cross the block at the RM Auctions in Monterey, California in August of 2011. One of only 253 examples of the 507, chassis 70192 would enjoy a truly rich history.

Only Albrecht von Goertz's attractive design would be fitting for the first 'Bond Girl'. While it is believed to be gifted by Elvis Presley, it is true that 70192 would be delivered to Ursula Andress after it had been delivered new to BMW Group Classic in New York City. One icon perfectly fitted for another, it is suggested by BMW Group Classic that Andress told Presley she would only take a BMW 507 instead of the more usual Cadillac convertible.

Finished in white, the car's interior would feature a bold red leather interior with white trim. Matching the famous white bikini for which Andress would become synonymous, the white 507 would undergo some modification during the fifteen years in which the actress owned the car. The engine would be replaced with a Ford V-8 and the car would have nerf bar bumpers fitted to it. Those nerf bumpers remain on the car to this day, but many of the other modifications would be reversed when the car was sold to Mark Smith.

Smith would find an original 507 engine and transmission. He would even return the car to its original white color. Since Smith's ownership, the car would make its way to the Imperial Palace Collection and would remain on display until purchased by the Lyon family. As part of the Lyon Collection the car went through careful restoration, but would still be driven frequently.

As the car headed to auction it was estimated anywhere from $800,000 to $1,200,000 could be offered for this truly remarkable and unique 507. No doubt about it, chassis 70192 offers its buyer both a piece of automotive inspiration and of Hollywood story-telling. Perhaps more importantly, the buyer has the opportunity to own a source of inspiration that transcends its own generation. At auction, the lot was sold for the sum of $1,072,500 which included buyers premium.

Sources:

'Featured Lots: Lot No. 238: 1958 BMW 507 Roadster', (http://www.rmauctions.com/featurecars.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r245&fc=0). RM Auctions. http://www.rmauctions.com/featurecars.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r245&fc=0. Retrieved 17 August 2011.

Wikipedia contributors, 'BMW 507', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 11 July 2011, 00:45 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=BMW_507&oldid=438831006 accessed 17 August 2011

by Jeremy McMullen

Roadster
Chassis number: 70128
Engine number: 40140

The BMW 507 was unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1955. The car wore styling courtesy of Albrecht Count Goertz and powered by an overhead valve V-8 capable of producing 165 horsepower.

This car has had only two owners since new. The new owner was Mr. Oscar Liebmann of Dumont, New Jersey, who took delivery in 1958. Mr. Oscar sold the car in 2001.

This is an original car that had never been restored when the second owner took possession. It was given a concours-level restoration which included the chrome being re-plated and new rubber weather striping installed.

In 2009, this BMW 507 was offered for sale by Gooding & Company at their Pebble Beach auction. The lot was estimated to sell for $750,000,000 - $900,000. As bidding came to a close, the lot had been sold for the sum of $935,000, inclusive of buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster
Chassis number: 70183
Engine number: 40184

This BMW 507 has seen very little public use for nearly three decades. Its prior owner seldom opened his garage to outside enthusiasts. After a negotiation between the current and prior owner, the 507 once again saw the outside world.

The vehicle is registered as a 1960, though it was manufactured on September 30th of 1958 and delivered new to BMW's importer Fadex Commercial Corporation in New York on April 14th of 1959. It is finished in deep blue over a crimson red interior.

The car was built toward the end of a four-year run of just 252 examples, this 507 is a Series II model. It features a revised dash layout and a relocated fuel tank that increased interior space. This allowed the seats to be moved several inches rearward to accommodate taller drivers. It also had more streamlined stowage for the convertible top.

The odometer of this BMW shows just over 77,000 miles and the car has never required a comprehensive restoration.

Of the 252 BMW 507s built, it is believed that just 202 have survived.

This vehicle is powered by a 3168cc overhead valve alloy V-8 engine with twin Zenith 32 NDIX carburetors. It produces 155 horsepower and is mated to a four-speed manual transmission with four-wheel hydraulic Alfin drum brakes.

In 2012, the car was offered for sale by Gooding & Company at their Scottsdale, Az. auction. The car was estimated to sell for $900,000 - $1,200,000. The car found new ownership for the sum of $962,500, inclusive of buyer's premium.

Since entering new ownership in 2012, the car was entrusted to Sargent Metal Works of Vermont for any required mechanical and cosmetic attention. THe brightwork has been replated, a new exhaust system installed, and the interior was re-trimmed with beige leather and carpeting.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster
Chassis number: 70138

Despite initial plans to sell several thousand cars, the BMW 507 was expensive to build and had to be priced accordingly, so only 252 were ever sold plus the two prototypes. However, it did magnificently represent BMW's tradition of sporty, high-quality vehicles. At a cost of DM 26,500 (around $13,000 or about the price of two Cadillacs), plus an extra DM 1,000 for a hardtop, customers received a sports car with a beautiful body that is still considered to be one of the finest roadsters of all time. The list of BMW 507 purchasers includes celebrities such as Elvis Presley and Grand Prix World Champion John Surtees. This car was owned by actor David Carradine.

Roadster
Chassis number: 70134
Engine number: 40146

Production of the BMW 507 commenced in November of 1956 and continued through May of 1959 after just 252 examples were built. This particular example was built towards the close of the 507's four-year production run. This is a Series II model, of which 214 examples were built.

The Series II cars had a revised dashboard layout, more streamlined stowage for the convertible top and a relocated fuel tank that increased interior space, allowing the seats to be moved rearward.

This car, 70134, was constructed in late 1957 and is believed to have been sold new to the United States through Hoffman Motors of New York. It is believed that just 34 examples of the BMW's 507 were officially exported new to the US through Hoffman Motors and FADEX Commercial Corporation.

It is believed that this car was sold new in Los Angeles. The earliest documented history dates are from the 1970s, when it was owned by an architect living in Jackson, Mississippi. In the early 1980s, Barry McMillan of Pennsylvania acquired the car and then passed it to a Philadelphia-area collector before being sold to the Oldtimer Garage in Bern, Switzerland.

In 1985, it was advertised for sale in Road & Track, and caught the attention of a Colorado-based BMW enthusiast. The car was shipped from Switzerland to its new home in Colorado.

The car is believed to have never been given a complete restoration and remains original throughout. All wheels are stamped with the appropriate September 1957 date codes. It has the original matching-numbers engine, and the body numbers (1133 or 233) is stamped on the hood and other body panels. It has the original blue and white leather upholstery.

The car has its original German-language shop manual, a tool kit, and an extensive history file that includes service records, articles, correspondence, and an autographed business card from Albrecht Goertz.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster
Chassis number: 70157

The BMW 507 was not designed with motor sports in mind, though several examples were entered in major racing events, including the Mille Miglia and the Tour de France. Depending on the gear ratio selected, the 507 was capable of achieving 125 mph to 135 mph. They could race from zero-to-sixty mph in less than 10 seconds. Production of the 507 commenced in November 1956 and came to a close in May 1959, and just 252 examples were built.

The BMW 507 Roadster was designed to fill the gap between the low-priced English imports and the expensive Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster. They commanded a sum of $8,988 in the US and 26,500 marks in Germany, making it one of the most expensive cars of its day. Though it was not a commercial success, the BMW 507 did accomplish the company's goal of building a limited-production, highly desirable V-8 roadster.

This example was delivered new to Werner Preis in Düsseldorf, Germany finished in Spring White and outfitted with engine 40175 and a hardtop.

In early 2000 it was in the care of Charles Crail and then sold to Microsoft Vice President Rick Thompson of Bellevue, Washington. At the time, the 507 Roadster was finished in white with black leather. It was described as having 77,000 km since new and was equipped with disc brakes, Rudge wheels, hard top, full complement of tools, full ownership history, and the original engine.

In February of 2000, the car was delivered to John Giles at TT Workshops Ltd. in Westbury, England for restoration. The complete, body-off restoration took over two years to complete, and included the rebuilding of the engine (numbered 40175) and five-speed gearbox.

Shipped to the US in July, the BMW 507 was completed just in time for its participation in the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance the following month. The car was finished in BMW Midnight Blue with dark red leather interior.

In February of 2003, the car was acquired by the current owner. During that time, the car has accrued around 2,000 miles. It participated in the 2007 Kirkland Concours d'Elegance Tour and Kirkland Concours d'Elegance where it won First in Class; the 2008 Kirkland Concours where it again won First in Class; the Copperstate 1000 in April 2008; and Cars in the Park, The Allure of the Automobile at Portland Art Museum in July 2011.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster

Bayerische Motoren Werke began in 1961 as an aircraft engine manufacturer. The firm expanded into motorcycle production in the early 1920s and in 1928 it took over the Dixi Company in Eisenach, Germany, which produced under license a version of the British Austin Seven. Following World War II, BMW barely survived by producing expensive low-volume high-quality automobiles. The struggling company was approached by U.S. dealer Max Hoffman to return to its roots and produce a sports car. BMW recruited German-American industrial designer Count Albrecht Goertz, who styled the 507 as an open two-seat roadster.

The first BMW 507 with this body style was introduced at the Frankfurt, Germany automobile show in the fall of 1955. Designed by Graf (Count) Albrecht Goertz this car was manufactured on November 27, 1957 and first delivered in Caracas, Venezuela on January 17, 1958.

There have been five owners before being purchased by the current owner on December 26, 1974. It is number 101 of purportedly 254 BMW 507s built between 1955 and 1959. It has an aluminum V8 engine with a 3168cc displacement producing over 150 DIN hp with a ZF four-speed synchromesh gearbox. Front suspension is double wishbones with a live rear axle Panhard rod rear suspension. The springing media are adjustable torsion bars both front and rear. It has been reported that Italian designer Georgio Giugiaro called the BMW 507 'the most beautiful car' he ever saw.

Roadster
Chassis number: 70081
Engine number: 40090

BMW introduced their 507 in late 1955 and it quickly became their flagship model. It wore styling by Count Albrecht von Goertz which had been heavily influenced by New York importer Max Hoffman. The lightweight alloy body evoked speed and elegance. It was built upon a rigid box frame and powered by a three-liter, 90-degree alloy V8 engine mated to a four-speed ZF manual gearbox. It had synchromesh gears, large finned-aluminum brake drums, and discs on later examples.

The limited-production V8 roadster production began in November of 1956 and concluded near the end of 1959 after just 252 examples were built. Even with its steep base price of $8,988 in the United States, it is said that the development and production costs of the 507 would have bankrupted the company were it not for the Isetta and motorcycle division. It was one of the most expensive and exclusive vehicles of its day.

This particular example was manufactured in October 1957 and delivered new in February 1958 to New Jersey. Its first known owner was Abraham Eckert of Langhorne, Pennsylvania. By 1995, the car had been registered in the Netherlands and, by 2013, was in the care of F.H. Breeman of Rotterdam. Also in 2013, it was acquired by Ulrich Berberich-Martini of Heilbronn, Germany.

From 2014 to 2015, this Series II car was given a restoration by Berberich-Martini's shop, Martini Garage of Heilbronn, Germany. It is currently finished in Graphite Gray Metallic over a beige interior with black piping, and fitted with knock-off wheels.

When this car left the BMW factory, it came equipped with a hardtop and finished in the color of Federweiss (Feather White).

Since this is a Series II car, it has the relocated gas tank which increased room in the passenger compartment and boot. It is also fitted with an underhood tool kit.

The current owner has brought the car back to the United States. In 2017, it was shown at the Pinehurst Concours d'Elegance.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster
Chassis number: 70126

The BMW 507 was the inspiration of the European sports car importer Max Hoffman. He wanted an exclusive roadster to compete in the lucrative American market against the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. Hoffman encouraged the industrial designer Count Albrecht von Goertz to work on the project; his design was approved by BMW and is now considered one of the most beautiful cars ever created. The 507 features an aluminum body on a tubular steel ladder frame and is powered by an aluminum, 3.2-liter V8 engine. Unfortunately, enormous production costs meant that BMW lost money on each car built, so production was limited. Today, its rarity has made it extremely collectible.

This Series II Roadster was delivered new to Autohaus Wilhelm Glockler in Frankfurt, Germany on March 19, 1958. It is one of 252 BMW 507s and one of only 18 cars delivered in this original color combination. After several owners in the U.S., the car was purchased by collector Axel Schuette in 2008 and returned to Germany. its current owners brought the car back to America in 2017 and returned it to its original paint specification.

Roadster
Chassis number: 70110

Two new variations of the V-8 powered BMW 502 were displaced at the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show - the 503 and the 507. Both models wore a design courtesy of Count Albrecht von Goertz, the 507 given roadster coachwork that successfully combined harmonious lines, the classic kidney grille, aggressive rear haunches, and unmistakable side vents. The lightweight aluminum body appeared to be stretched over the advanced mechanical underpinnings and the rigid box frame. BMW's robust twin-carburetor alloy V8 engine displaced 3,168cc and delivered 150 horsepower. It was backed by a four-speed ZF synchromesh manual gearbox and large Alfin drum brakes, and depending on the gear ratio selected, the 507 was capable of 125 to 135 mph with zero-to-sixty mph achieved in less than ten seconds.

The BMW 507 was priced at $8,988 in the U.S. making it one of the most expensive (thus exclusive) cars of its day. Between November 1956 and May 1959, just 254 examples were built. The BMW was certainly not a commercial success, but it did accomplish BMW's goal of building a paragon of the sports car world.

This particular example is a Series II model and one of 218 examples built. The Series II was initially developed as a separate model for the American market, became the production standard in mid-1957. They were given a revised dashboard layout, a relocated fuel tank that increased interior space, repositioned seats placed farther rearward, and more streamlined stowage for the convertible top. Later Series II models were given front disc brakes.

This particular example was completed on January 14, 1958, finished in Silbergrau (Silver Grey) and factory equipped with a hardtop and exhaust tips. It is one of 21 examples finished in Silbergrau, tied with Japan Red for the second most popular 507 color after Feather White.

This BMW was shipped to Caracas in May of 1958 making it one of just 13 examples delivered new to Venezuela. It spent a brief time in South America before returning to Germany around 1960 and remaining in Europe for the next five decades. By the late 1960s, it was owned by Ludwig Hahn and then passed to Nicolaus Hahn - perhaps a relative. Erich Benz offered it for sale in 2005 and then restored it to a high standard between 2006 and 2008. The mechanical overhaul was performed by the BMW Classic department.

In May 2014, while under the care of Jan Onne of Hamburg, Germany, the car returned to BMW Classic for an extensive inspection and factory expertise report.

The car was acquired by an American collector in 2016 who displayed it that year at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering.

This BMW 507 is currently finished in factory-correct Silver Grey, with red leather uphostlery, and a dark gray hardtop. There are Rudge knock-off wheels and period-correct whitewall tires. There is a Becker radio, front disc brakes, a proper underhood tool kit with Hazet components, sales literature, maintenance charts, repair manual, and owner's manual.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster
Chassis number: 70171
Engine number: 40183

Austrian-born, New York-based automotive importer Max Hoffman was the catalyst for many mid-1950s sports cars, including the Porsche Speedster and the gullwing Mercedes-Benz. He had the ability to recognize and exploit market niches and facilitate and guide manufacturers in crucial product decisions. By the mid-1950s, Hoffman was selling roughly one-third of Porsche's annual output to customers in the United States.

His success with one German manufacturer in North America led him to set his sights on another - the Munich-based firm of BMW. At the time, they were still recovering from the heavy bombing its factories sustained during World War II. Once having a noble and distinguished line of automobiles, BMW would revert to 'survival mode' in the post-WWII era with the Isetta microcar. Recognizing Hoffman's talents and what he had done for other manufacturers, BMW agreed to build a two-door roadster based on the 501 and 502 saloons. A young designer named Albrecht Graf von Goertz was tasked with creating the design - his first-ever entire car design project – while the mechanical underpinnings were handled by BMW technical director Fritz Fiedler.

New York's Waldorf Astoria was chosen for the BMW 507's unveiling in August 1955. It wore a hand-formed aluminum silhouette that was sensuous and elegant, with a plunging nose, BMW's trademark twin-kidney grille, sculpted front fenders, and purposeful chrome detailing around the headlights, windshield, and fender vents. The all-aluminum 3.2-liter overhead-valve V8 engine offered 148 horsepower and was paired with a four-speed synchromesh transmission.

The BMW 507's drawback was its price, which soared past Hoffman's target price of $4,449, with each bespoke example ultimately costing nearly $10,000. For comparison, a 300 SL Roadster retailed for closer to $7,000. By the time production of the 507 ceased in 1959, a total of 252 units had been built. Among the list of high-profile clients who acquired the costly 507 were Elvis Presley, Alain Delon, Ursula Andress, John Surtees, and King Baudouin of Belgium.

This particular Papyros white, Series II BMW Roadster was owned by New Orleans jazz musician Pierre Dewey LaFontaine Jr., known professionally as Pete Fountain. It was completed on September 17, 1958. Equipped with Girling front disc brakes, it was dispatched to the United States and was not delivered through the usual importers Fadex or Hoffman, and is believed to have been specially ordered by Fountain.

The BMW's history resumes in the 1990s when the 507 was registered to attorney and BMW collector Terrance K. Knudsen of Wisconsin. By the close of the decade, it was in the care of Melvin F. Weiss of New Jersey, who is believed to have owned the roadster for over two decades until 2023. While in Mr. Weiss's ownership, the BMW was the subject of a meticulous restoration to its original factory appearance with a Papyros white exterior, a dark blue optional factory hard top, and a dark blue leather interior. Period-correct touches include its Becker Mexico radio and set of chrome knock-off Rudge wheels.

The matching-numbers engine was given a comprehensive rebuild at Motion Products Inc. in Neenah, Wisconsin. The work took four months to complete and included the replacement of the clutch. Receipts totaled in excess of $65,000.

by Dan Vaughan

The BMW 507 was produced from 1956 through 1959 with only 254 examples being produced. The styling was inspired by Max Hoffmann, America's largest import car dealer, and designed by Albrecht von Goertz. Goertz was born in Germany and later migrated to America as Graf Albrecht von Goertz. His portfolio included marques such as Studebaker and Datsun. He was also responsible for designing the BMW 503.

The 507 was a combination of power, exquisite styling, and a lightweight body. The exterior was constructed of light-weight alloy and attached to a metal frame and pressed-steel wheels. Under the hood was a 90-degree eight-cylinder engine that produced 150 horsepower. The top speed was achieved at 125 mph.

The official debut was at the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show where it was the star. The car was shown in an incomplete form with objects being placed in the engine bay to fill the void of the engine that was still under construction. A working prototype was shown in September at the Paris Show. Customers took delivery the following year in November. One of the more famous customers was Elvis Presley. There were two production runs of the 507, the Series 1 and Series 2. The Series 2 was very similar to the first Series, but include minor updates such as a modified dashboard and revised bulkhead to accommodate extra luggage. With 210 Series 2 cars, they were produced in greater numbers than the 42 created Series 1. A heavy price tag was responsible for these low production numbers. The cost to produce these was steep, so their price tag followed in a similar fashion.

What had set out to be a lightweight, inexpensive, sports car with an estimated 200+ horsepower actually evolved into a heavy, money-pit, that had a poor power-to-weight ratio. The tools to produce the vehicle were expensive resulting in slow sales and BMW inching towards bankruptcy. BMW added performance options such as disc brakes and a five-speed transaxle but this did little to encourage customers.

The two-seater 507 sports cars based on the 503 were built to exceptional quality and engineering but unfortunately not well enough. In modern times, these are highly sought after cars because of their low production figures and the history of the marque.

by Dan Vaughan

In the 1930s BMW was famous for its top sports cars, but WWII put the marque so behind that they couldn't return to auto production until 1951. The sensational 507 was monumental in proving that BMW could produce durable, fast, superbly engineered road vehicles.

Introduced at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York in 1955, the pricy BMW 507 roadster was created with the intent of improving BMW's sporting image. BMW had high hopes for the classy 507, but unfortunately, the snappy little roadster was unable to live up to these aspirations. The goal was to export the 507 to the U.S. at a rate of several hundred per year, but the vehicles were too expensive for postwar Germany and too eccentric for American auto tastes and at a time when most Americans hadn't ever heard of BMW. BMW didn't have the tooling to produce the 507 in the desired numbers by him, and it took longer than expected to get the car to America.

Max Hoffman was a shrewd U.S. automobile importer who sweet-talked BMW management in 1954 into producing a roadster variant of the BMW 501 and BMW 502 saloons to fill the void between the pricy Mercedes-Benz 300SL and the inexpensive and underpowered MG and Triumph sports vehicles. Hoffman convinced BMW that he had plenty of wealthy American customers that wanted a sleek BMW sports car, which he would display at his lux NYC dealership. BMW was competing with rival Mercedes-Benz's 300SL model and needed both an image boost and extra cash flow, so they agreed to build the car. Hoffman had all of the right connections in the U.S. and owned distribution rights on the East Coast for the high-pedigree European auto and also sold them.

Hoffman was unimpressed by any early designs by Ernst Loof and BMW contracted German-American industrial designer Count Albrecht von Goertz to design the BMW sports models with the 502's big chassis and running gear. In November of 1954, Goertz designed the 503 coupe and convertible with the 502's chassis and pushrod aluminum V8 engine. Though he was pleased with the 503 and the boost it gave to BMW, Hoffman wanted a much more dramatic car, one that would be sensationally eye-catching on American streets. Hoffman persuaded Goertz to take even more creative liberty, and the result was the 507 two-seater. Goertz stressed simplicity in the design of the 507 and was intricately involved in every part of the design from the grille to the cockpit.

Fritz Fiedler was BMW's chief engineer who was assigned the task of designing the mechanical package by utilizing existing components wherever able. Hoffman made sure that the 507 had a new 3.2-liter V8 engine during a time when few European cars had a V8 due to stiff engine-size taxes. Even the famous 300SL only had a 6-cylinder engine, but Hoffman knew that the only engine he wanted was a V8 for his American baby.

After it's introduction, production of the BMW 507 began in November of 1956. Hoffman had high hopes of selling the 507 around a price of $5,000, but high production costs made that impossibility. The BMW 507 was closer to an initial price of $9,000, before rising to $10,500, but the model helped to establish BMW as a forward-thinking manufacturer that has continued to this day. Hoffman had hoped to sell around 5,000 units a year, but despite celebrity buyers that included Georg 'Schorsch' Meier and Hans Stuck, the 507 never reached more than 10% of the sales volume that rival Mercedes-Benz 300SL achieved. In 1959 BMW lost around DM 15 million with the company losing money on every single 507 model built.

The 507 sported a pointed nose with BMW's trademark twin grilles. Much like the then-new Ford Thunderbird two-seater, the 507 offered a removable steel top to go with its convertible top. A number of models were sold with an optional hand-fabricated removable hardtop that was unique to the car it was made for and only fit on that specific vehicle. Eventually, the styling of the 507 inspired the Z3 and Z4, and especially the Z8. The 507 was built on the same frame as the 503, which was shorted from 111.6 inches to 98 inches. The 507 had an overall length of 190.4 inches and an overall height of 49.5 inches and weighed 2,900 lbs. The body was constructed almost entirely from hand-formed aluminum and no two models were ever exactly alike. Fully equipped and nicely detailed, the largely hand-built 507 cost about the price of two Cadillac's when it finally arrived at Hoffman's prestigious dealership.

The 507's front suspension was parallel double wishbones with torsion bar springs and anti-roll bar. Located by a Panhard rod and a central, transverse A-arm that controlled acceleration and braking forces, the rear suspension featured a live axle, also sprung by torsion bars. The brakes used were Alfin drum brakes 11.2 inches in diameter with optional power brakes. 507 models produced later in the production run sported front Girling disc brakes. The 507 safely could cruise Germany's unlimited speed highways at more than 100 mph thanks to hefty drum, and later disc brakes. When compared with other 1950's convertibles of the time, the 507 was equipped with sharp handling and exceptional rigidity due to precise rack-and-pinion steering, torsion bar front suspension, nicely engineered rear suspension, and a high tech tubular chassis.

Powering the 507 was the aluminum alloy BMW OHV V8 engine of 193.3 cubic inch displacement that featured pushrod-operated overhead valves. It featured two Solex Zenith 32NDIX two-barrel carburetors, a chain-driven oil pump, and a compression ratio of 7.8:1 that produced 150 hp at 5,000 rpm and was joined to a close-ratio four-speed manual transmission. Standard was a rear-end ratio of 3.70:1, but optional were ratios of 3.42:1 and 3.90:1. The BMW 507 could hit 0-60 mph in just 7 to 8.8 seconds, depending on gearing, and had a top speed range of 128-138 mph.

A stellar example of a highly desirable limited-production German sports car, only 253 507's were built during the model's four-year production run. In 1959 production was terminated. The launch of cheaper, newer models like the BMW 700 and the 'New Class' 1500 helped BMW recover as a company. A total of 202 BMW 507's are thought to have survived today.

The landmark model has been owned by numerous famous people including the iconic Elvis Presley who leased a white 507 in 1959 for $3,500 while stationed with the Army in Germany. Elvis would often fight lipstick stains all over his 507. In 1963 he gifted the car to the actress 'Bond Girl' Ursula Andress. John Surtees was another famous owner who received a 507 by Count Agusta after winning the 1956 500cc World Motorcycle Championship on an MV Agusta. Surtees still owns his 507 and worked with Dunlop to add disc brakes for the front wheels, before eventually adding disc brakes on all four wheels. In October 2007 Bernie Ecclestone's 507 sold for $904,000 at a London auction.

The 507 made its big-screen debut in the 1964 film Fantômas.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_507

http://www.danjedlicka.com/classic_cars/bmw_507.html

by Jessican Donaldson