BMW 507 – eBay offers a genuine classic

Every now and then eBay turns up a genuine motoring icon. This listing from the US of an incredibly rare BMW 507 is one of those examples. Just 253 of the aluminium skinned coupés were made by BMW. All were hand built and were powered by a 150hp 3.2 litre V8. The example on sale is in excellent condition, with the only real negative being the make-shift head unit install.

Back in the 1950s when the car was made its achilles heel was its price and this was the reason for its low production numbers. Although, it did count motorsport legend John Surtees and the King, Elvis Presley, among its owners. The cost of the car can never hide the 507’s gorgeous shapes and lines, though; it ranks in the AUSmotive annals as one of the most beautiful cars ever made.

Today, though, its rarity simply drives used prices up. This eBay listing is proof of that, with the current bidding at US$500,100. The auction ends tomorrow.

After the break you can see more photos as well as the text detailing the car’s history, which has been copied from the eBay listing.

[Source: eBay US | Thanks to Jono for the tip]

1957 BMW 507 Roadster Series II

s/n 70080, Engine no. 40095
Black with Red Interior

Please note – the odometer reads in Kilometers, not in miles. The mileage shows as 56,515 KMS

Like many great European sports of the 1950’s, the 507 owes much of its existence to Max Hoffman, the New York based distributor of a wide range of European sports cars, from Porsche to MG to Mercedes. Mr. Hoffman was the go-to guy for European sports car makers wanting to “strike it big” in America. He understood the American sports car buyer, and for those companies who followed his advice (such as Porsche with their sub $3000 Speedster), success was all but guaranteed.

He advised BMW on the 507, which was intended to be a circa $5000 open sports car that was glamorous, technologically sophisticated, and unique. The car succeeded on all those levels except for price. The car was engineered and built to high standards, but when it finally arrived with a price in the region of $10,000, the price was so high that the car simply never sold very well. BMW lost money on each 507, despite the high price tag, and all in all, just 253 were built. But what spectacular cars they were. The styling, by Albrecht Goertz, is dramatic, with stunning proportions resulting from the seemingly endless hood, low and wide stance, and pronounced coke bottle hips. The car’s hand made aluminum bodywork was aggressive, dramatic, and dynamic in a way that Mercedes’ 300SL was not. The powerplant was an unusual arrangement for a European company: a 90 degree V8, which displaced 3.2 liters and had aluminum cylinder heads and numerous other aluminum components. The cars did find a few famous owners including Elvis Presley and John Surtsees. Today, because of their, rarity, styling, and technical properties, 507’s are highly sought after and extremely valuable.

This particular car is a Series II car with front disc brakes. It was previously part of the Imperial Palace, where it was represented as one of the two ex-Elvis Presley 507s, though in reality, this is actually one serial number after his red car. The current owner purchased it from Imperial Palace about 15 years ago, and had a comprehensive mechanical freshening performed at a cost of about $20,000. Included in this work was rebuilt rear axle, new clutch and slave cylinder, repainted dashboard, remove and repair instruments as necessary, rebuilt water pump, recored radiator and heater core, new hoses, disassemble distributor and set timing, adjust valves, detail engine and engine compartment, new brake seals, cylinders, rebuild master cylinder and brake booster, fit new shocks, new tires, and fabricate new exhaust system. Most recently, the car was serviced in July of 2009 to include rebuilding the carburetors, new spark plugs, wires, cap, rotor, coil, fuel filter, some suspension bushings, and resealing the rear axle. The car drives and performs marvelously at this time, reflecting the careful mechanical sorting that it has received.

Cosmetically, the car is in nice shape, with a well-kept older restoration. The paintwork was executed to high standards and is holding up well, though close inspection reveals a few stress cracks and a few square inches of bubbling on the left rocker behind the door. The fit and gaps are good throughout. The chrome is in nice shape with minimal pitting and a few scratches. The headlamps are excellent Carello items, while the rear lights are a bit faded and cracked.

The interior has a nice even patina and is very evocative. The instruments and dashboard are in very good shape. The knobs and switches are original and are in nice shape considering this. The upholstery and carpets are very nice throughout, though the driver’s floor mat has some discoloration. The door panels are also in nice shape, and the car is fitted with safety belts.

The trunk and engine compartment are both tidy, and representative of an older restoration. An alternator has been fitted to improve the functionality of the charging system. The car is an absolutely fantastic driving example. The engine makes good power and wonderful noise, the suspension and chassis are coherent and capable, the brakes are outstanding, and the transmission is excellent. The driving position is good, and the car would be supremely enjoyable for long distance touring.

This is an exceptionally rare opportunity to acquire a BMW 507. A true legend, the 507 is much rarer than the 300SL (of which over 3000 were built), and is a wonderfully stylish car that epitomizes the idea of “cool”. A desirable Series II car with disc front brakes, this particular car is mechanically outstanding, making it an excellent event car that will be welcome wherever it goes. Cosmetically, it is attractive and makes a strong impression, but it is not perfect, which makes it an ideal car to use and enjoy. It comes with service records for the current ownership period, indicating the extensive mechanical freshening that the car has received.