The Forgotten Luxury Sibling to the Iconic BMW 507

The BMW 507 is arguably one of many model’s most well-known and influential fashions. On the time, its light-weight V8 engine was a giant technical development. Much more telling, its fairly proportions served as a canvas even half a century later, functioning because the guiding design underscoring the now equally legendary BMW Z8. Sadly, the automotive missed its mark commercially, and BMW solely produced 251 examples earlier than shuttering manufacturing. However alongside the 507 existed an much more costly and splendid model: the BMW 503.

The BMW 503 At a Look

In some areas, the BMW 503 shared so much with the BMW 507. Each automobiles debuted on the Frankfurt Motor Present in September 1955, and each automobiles have been costly for the time. Just like the 507, the 503 value far more than anticipated. The previous began round DM 26,500 (Deutsche Marks), with the latter launching near DM 30,000. Adjusted for as we speak, that’s approaching six figures. Each designs originated from Albrecht von Goertz, the person who additionally labored on legends just like the Toyota 2000GT and Nissan Silvia. The automobiles shared some {hardware}, too; particularly, the three.2-liter V8 engine. Whereas the 507’s made 150 horsepower, the 503 — which targeted extra on luxurious and refinement than all-out efficiency — was caught with 140 horsepower. Each automobiles after all, have been additionally spectacular failures, commercially talking. BMW solely managed to maneuver 273 coupes and 139 convertibles, making the 503 solely a slightly simpler promote than the 507.

In fact, aesthetically and virtually, the 2 automobiles served totally different functions. Whereas the 507 sits simply two, the 503 provides a 2+2 configuration. The again seats are most likely most helpful in convertible guise, which highlights one other distinction. The 503 was obtainable as a coupe, which the 507 by no means was. The 503 was a barely modified 502 sedan chassis beneath. Whereas the 507 was then based mostly on the 503’s chassis, there have been main variations. A considerably shorter wheelbase (2,480 mm vs. 2,835 mm, round 13 inches) was constructed from thicker gauge metal, reportedly to maintain chassis flex to a minimal.

The 503 and 507: Shared Success Later in Life

It’s fascinating to notice that the costlier 503 truly outsold the 507. Albeit, not sufficient for the automotive to be worthwhile. The 507’s issues within the market are pretty simple: the automotive, whereas stunning, merely didn’t carry out in addition to its price ticket and appears advised. Bear in mind, that automotive launched with the U.S. market squarely in its sights, an space of the world already accustomed to V8 energy. However, the 503’s even increased value and luxurious focus meant it was deliberately out of attain for the mainstream purchaser. Doubly so when you think about BMW had practically zero illustration in the US. The automotive’s excessive value had scared off one its greatest advocates, Max Hoffman. Sadly, he was additionally the first distributor for BMW Stateside. Even when the 503 had been good, it might be onerous to persuade consumers to commerce within the safety of established dealerships and repair facilities that U.S.-based luxurious manufacturers supplied.

Regardless of the automotive outselling the 507, the BMW 503 principally lives in that automotive’s shadow. It’s nonetheless one of many rarest BMWs on the market as we speak. However public sale costs mirror the automotive’s stature relative to the 507. Whereas the most effective and rarest of the bunch may scrape half 1,000,000 U.S. {dollars}, nearly all 507s transact properly previous the a million mark. In both case, each automobiles went from business flop to public sale superstars — a trajectory by no means unusual or distinctive to the BMW model. Makes you marvel the place costs for a few of as we speak’s automobiles may find yourself in a number of a long time.