At the urge of BMW’s American importer Max Hoffman, designer Albrecht von Goertz conceived a gorgeous two-seat roadster alternative to ride a shortened version of the BMW 503’s chassis and used its engine. The stunning 507 was revealed in New York at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in the summer of 1955. It was to be the Bavarian company’s foothold in the luxury sports car market, aiming to take on the Mercedes-Benz 300SL and Jaguar XK models.

The coachwork was hand-formed in aluminum, which was mounted to a steel underbody. Under the hood was a high-compression version of BMW’s all-aluminum 3,168cc V8 engine with twin Zenith 32NDIX two-barrell carburetors.

Not only was it Germany’s first V8 engine, it was the first all-aluminum production V8. Output was a modest 150 hp, but the engine was notable for its exceptional smoothness and 175 lb-ft of torque running through a 4-speed Getrag manual gearbox.

BMW put the 507 into production in the fall of 1956. Early Series I cars, of which only 34 were built before early 1957, had a large 29-gallon fuel tank that protruded from under the rear valence, as well as decidedly cramped cockpit accommodations. The Series II model addressed these two concerns with a 17-gallon fuel tank that was fully concealed by a redesigned rear valence, and a deeper, more sculpted dashboard that provided more space.

In the end, the 507 was not the sales success Hoffman had hoped. Only 254 examples were ever built (including two prototypes) before production ended in 1959. But it did succeed as an image-maker for the post-war BMW brand, aided by celebrity owners around the world including Elvis Presley, Ursula Andress, Fred Astaire, Hans Stuck, and others. Once overlooked, the 507 is finally getting the respect it deserves. It may not have saved the company, but it redefined its image—a legacy that lives on today.

This Series II 507 roadster, originally finished in Old Ivory paint, was produced on 5th May 1958 and reportedly exhibited in the BMW pavilion in Munich before export to Cuba. It arrived in Havana on 7th June 1958 and was delivered to BMW Importer Cia Importada.

This example made its way back to Germany in the 1980s and has been in the care of its current owner since 1988. It received an extensive restoration in Munich between 1988 and 1993 by BMW specialists Hagel and Brunner. At that time, it received its current black exterior finish.

During this restoration, the original engine was removed in favor of a more reliable late-production version. The original design used 10-bolt cylinder heads which were found to become unreliable in the 507’s high-compression (7.8:1) configuration. Toward the end of the 507’s run, an eleventh bolt was added, improving reliability. The car is currently running the 11-bolt engine, but the owner has retained the original engine as well. Upon completion of its restoration, and with a more robust powerplant under foot, the 507 was entered in the 1993 running of the Meran Classic rally. It would go on to be enjoyed successfully in other classic rallies in Europe including Tour Auto, Ennstal Classic, and Targa Florio.

At around 41,000 km, the owner had the latter engine overhauled, once again employing 507 specialist Brummer. In total, the car has been driven around 60,000 kilometers. The older restoration is now showing its age and evidence of its use, which the owner describes as a reliable and enjoyable rally car.

A small selection of events in which the car has participated:

1993 Meran Classic
1994 Tour Auto
1994 Ennstal Classic
1995 Tour Auto
1995 Ennstal Classic
2001 Targa Florio
2002 Ennstal Classic
2013 Ennstal Classic

For decades the BMW 507 was treated as an oddity rather than a blue-chip collectible. It wasn’t uncommon for these to be repainted, modified, or even transplanted with more powerful American V8s. In recent years, a number of notable, original 507s have emerged from the proverbial barns and serious collectors have taken notice.

Its V8 power plant sets it apart from the six-cylinder Mercedes and Jaguars it was meant to compete with. It’s truly a coachbuilt car as well. With an aluminum skin formed over traditional body bucks one at a time, no two are truly the same.

It’s impossible to find a bad angle on the 507’s shape, a testament to von Goertz’s talents. But for as gorgeous as the roadster is, its best quality may be its level of refinement for the day. As the current owner has clearly discovered, it provides a balance of performance and luxury that makes it as ideal for vintage rallies as for the concours field.

This 507, with its numbers-matching original engine included, offers the next owner the best of both worlds; an example that beautifully fits as a center piece in any collection or can be enjoyed as a reliable rally partner. The options are limitless, even if the supply of quality 507s is not.

For full details, please see listing at sbxcars.com