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 opulent model: the BMW 503.
The BMW 503 At a Look
In some areas, the BMW 503 shared rather a lot with the BMW 507. Each automobiles debuted on the Frankfurt Motor Present in September 1955, and each automobiles had been costly for the time. Just like the 507, the 503 price far more than anticipated. The previous began round DM 26,500 (Deutsche Marks), with the latter launching near DM 30,000. Adjusted for at this time, 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 centered extra on luxurious and refinement than all-out efficiency — was caught with 140 horsepower. Each automobiles after all, had been additionally spectacular failures, commercially talking. BMW solely managed to maneuver 273 coupes and 139 convertibles, making the 503 solely a touch simpler promote than the 507.
In fact, aesthetically and virtually, the 2 automobiles served completely different functions. Whereas the 507 sits simply two, the 503 presents a 2+2 configuration. The again seats are in all probability 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 constituted of thicker gauge metal, reportedly to maintain chassis flex to a minimal.
The 503 and 507: Shared Success Later in Life
It’s attention-grabbing to notice that the costlier 503 really 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 recommended. Keep in mind, that automotive launched with the U.S. market squarely in its sights, an space of the world already accustomed to V8 energy. Alternatively, 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 almost zero illustration in america. 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 excellent, it could be onerous to persuade patrons to commerce within the safety of established dealerships and repair facilities that U.S.-based luxurious manufacturers offered.
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 at this time. However public sale costs replicate the automotive’s stature relative to the 507. Whereas the perfect and rarest of the bunch would possibly scrape half 1,000,000 U.S. {dollars}, nearly all 507s transact nicely 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 at this time’s automobiles would possibly find yourself in a couple of a long time.
