Photo: Bonhams
Forgotten classic cars unearthed after decades hold a special appeal for most car enthusiasts. There is something riveting about them, and this 1957 BMW 507 Series II Roadster that has been untouched for over four decades is a perfect example.
The rare BMW 507 has been kept in storage since 1979 and might just get a new lease on life, as the sports car is set to go under the hammer at the Bonhams Audrain Concours auction in Rhode Island on September 30.
With only 252 units ever produced, the 1957 BMW 507 Series II Roadster is quite hard to come by. It’s the holy grail of collectible BMWs, with famous former owners including King Constantine II and Elvis Presley.
The German car maker’s flagship sports car was produced from 1956 until 1959, and though BMW initially had plans to export thousands of examples to the U.S. annually, the car ended up being an exclusive due to its high price tag.
The that is the object of this auction was delivered new to Caracas, Venezuela, where it received new Rudge knock-off wheels and an optional hard top. After an undetermined amount of time, the car arrived in Montreal, Canada, and ended up in the current owner’s late father’s ownership in 1979.
The man parked it in a garage in Philadelphia, where it remained for the past 43 years. As it turns out, this matching-numbers example was not the only BMW 507 owned by the family. It was actually part of a fleet of BMW sports cars they owned and it was only started up from time to time.
As seen in the photos, the BMW is not exactly in pristine condition, but the auction house mentions that it underwent a makeover in the early ‘70s and was repainted in Pontiac Bright Blue Metallic. That’s a good chance for the future owner to restore it to their own liking.
The auction house will offer the convertible to the highest bidder at no reserve, and it could fetch between $1.8 million (1.7 million Euro) and $2.2 million (2.08 million Euro).
With only 252 units ever produced, the 1957 BMW 507 Series II Roadster is quite hard to come by. It’s the holy grail of collectible BMWs, with famous former owners including King Constantine II and Elvis Presley.
The German car maker’s flagship sports car was produced from 1956 until 1959, and though BMW initially had plans to export thousands of examples to the U.S. annually, the car ended up being an exclusive due to its high price tag.
The that is the object of this auction was delivered new to Caracas, Venezuela, where it received new Rudge knock-off wheels and an optional hard top. After an undetermined amount of time, the car arrived in Montreal, Canada, and ended up in the current owner’s late father’s ownership in 1979.
The man parked it in a garage in Philadelphia, where it remained for the past 43 years. As it turns out, this matching-numbers example was not the only BMW 507 owned by the family. It was actually part of a fleet of BMW sports cars they owned and it was only started up from time to time.
As seen in the photos, the BMW is not exactly in pristine condition, but the auction house mentions that it underwent a makeover in the early ‘70s and was repainted in Pontiac Bright Blue Metallic. That’s a good chance for the future owner to restore it to their own liking.
The auction house will offer the convertible to the highest bidder at no reserve, and it could fetch between $1.8 million (1.7 million Euro) and $2.2 million (2.08 million Euro).
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