BMW 507
Before World War 2, BMW had established itself well in the automotive world. With sedans and sports cars as well as fancy convertibles, they had a lot to offer their clientele. But after the end of the war, the company had some trouble getting back on track. On the one hand, they offered the 501 and 502 luxury class sedans, on the other hand, they served the bubble car market with the Isetta. For a long time, there was nothing in between. When the new 503 and 507 model series debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in 1955, they only made the situation worse. As sporty model series, both were aimed at a group of buyers with purchasing power that didn’t yet exist in Germany and large parts of Europe. The price of the 507 was equivalent to 5.5 times the gross average salary of a German employee at the time. The situation was different in the USA, where Max Hoffman hoped for sales opportunities as an importer. It took a full year for the 507 to go into small-series production.
Two series in four years
Between 1956 and 1959, only 254 units were built. The first 43 of these, built until March 1957, corresponded to the so-called Series 1, which differed from the later Series 2 mainly in the positioning of the fuel tank and a modified dashboard. On the powertrain side, the 3.2-liter V8 engine was retained. In the basic version, this produced 110 kW/150 hp, but was also available with increased compression and 121 kW/165 hp as an option. In addition, there were different gear ratios for the rear axle, making up to 137 mph topspeed possible. With a full tank of fuel – 110 liters in fact – the curb weight was 1.33 tons. While parts of the box frame and the front independent suspension came from the 502, the 507, like the 503, received a four-speed transmission elastically mounted on the frame between the seats. This allowed the engine to be positioned lower. The torsion bar suspension on the rear rigid axle, on the other hand, again came from the 502.
One of 15 507s in black
Among the first owners of the 254 vehicles were some well-sounding names. Alain Delon, John Surtees, Toni Sailer and Ursula Andress are just a few of them. The King of Rock’n’Roll, Elvis Presley, bought a young used car during his GI days in West Germany, which has since been restored and is again owned by BMW. Only a few 507s remain in first-hands today. One of these rare cars is now resurfacing at auction house Gooding & Company as part of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Chassis number 70228 was created in 1959 as one of the final cars in the rare color scheme of black over red leather. Only 15 examples of the 507 left the factory in black. The rare hardtop was part of the package. In May 1959, Gerhard R. Bold of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, took delivery of his sports car while visiting his relatives in Germany. After a tour of Europe, he shipped the 507 to his home country in August 1959.
Unrestored from first ownership
Mr. Bold used his BMW often into the early 1970s. Among other things, he showed it at The New Hope Automobile Show in Pennsylvania. Prior to that, the roadster received a repaint in its original color. In the middle of the decade, he decommissioned the sports car and parked it in a garage. It was only recently that the current owner was able to purchase it. However, since it isn’t in roadworthy condition, his name doesn’t appear in the registration documents. A close inspection revealed that all components are still in factory condition, i.e. matching numbers condition. Even the hardtop, the on-board tools and all manuals are still present. Gooding & Company is now looking for a new owner who will appreciate this unrestored beauty. However, you will have to part with some money to do so. The hammer price is expected to range between US$ 2,000,000 and US$ 2,400,000.
Images: Gooding & Company
