BMW 507 Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Like the 507 Roadster, the Coupe version was produced between 1956 and 1959 in two series. Still, unfortunately, the high production costs led to the dismissal of this stunning car due to financial reasons.

The design of the 507 was a true masterpiece created by Albrecht Goertz. He started from the roadster version of the car, shortened the wheelbase, and made a coupe bodywork for it. But since the car was hand built, it couldn't compete, price-wise, with another great car from those times, the famous Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing."

Max Hoffman, who was the main importer for BMW in the U.S., convinced the German automaker to create a hardtop version of the 507 roadster. Since it was a vehicle built on top of a rigid chassis, that was not such a big problem, so Albrecht Goertz made it happen. He kept the car's front fascia with the round headlights and the flat and wide grilles. Moreover, the vents from the front fenders were kept in place. Yet, the car sported a rigid, aluminum roof instead of a canvas top. Since the car didn't need extra space for the retractable rag-top, the designer chose to shorten the wheelbase and make a curved rear windscreen at the back of the cabin.

Inside, the vehicle sported a similar design to the 507 roadster. It featured the same four-spoke steering wheel fronting the three-dial instrument panel. On the middle section of the dashboard, BMW placed the radio. In front of the passenger, the car had a glove compartment. Since the wheelbase was shortened, there was no room in the back for a bench. Still, there were side windows behind the doors.

Underneath the hood, the 507 TS Coupe featured the same 3.2-liter V8 shared with its roadster sibling.

The BMW 507 was created to improve the German car brand into the American Show-Biz arena. It was launched in 1955 and it made it into the Elvis Presley garage.

In 1955 BMW was still struggling with old engines, vehicles on old chassis and a tiny car named Isetta. It was far from reaching its glorious past before WWII. Their idea was to improve the general perception for the brand and for that, it offered a special roadster: the 507.

The main importer of the BMW brand in the U.S. was Max Hoffman, the same person that convinced Mercedes-Benz to produce the 300 SL Gullwing. He knew that the market was open for expensive flamboyant roadsters. The 507 was supposed to fill the gap and BMW hoped that they could sell 1000 units per year. The chassis was a shortened version from the BMW 501 convertible and the V8 engine was specially produced for the 507.

With its long hood and side vents behind the wheel arches, the 507 was received as a breakthrough model, with high performances and could fill the need for fast roadsters on the U.S. market. Along the 507, the same designer created the 503, which was a GT-coupe car.

The V8 engine was mated to a 4-speed manual gearbox and everything on the car was specially designed for the 507. Due to those reasons, the final price of the vehicle was twice as big as projected. In 1953, the Corvette was already on the market at a fraction of the price of the 507. The result was a huge loss for the BMW brand who had to pull the plug after only 252 vehicles were built between 1955 and 1960.