1957 BMW 507 Series I

The BMW 507 was born of Max Hoffman’s remarkable intuition for the American market. Recognizing an opportunity for a mid-priced sports car – positioned between the high-end Mercedes-Benz Gullwing and more modest British sports cars – Hoffman approached BMW with a proposal for a more accessible roadster, offering to purchase 1,000 examples. To realize his vision, Hoffman sought a designer with an equally refined understanding of the American audience and turned to Count Albrecht von Goertz, who had trained under the legendary industrial designer Raymond Loewy. Von Goertz’s design was a revelation. The new BMW roadster was so pure and perfect that it immediately took its place among the all-time great automotive designs. Possessing sweeping, harmonious lines, a purposeful rendition of the classic kidney grille, unmistakable side vents, and aggressive rear haunches, the 507’s lightweight aluminum body appeared to be stretched over the mechanical underpinnings, and evoked speed even when standing still. The 507 not only looked like a true sports car, it performed like one. With a rigid box frame, upgraded suspension, four-speed synchromesh gearbox, and large Alfin drum brakes, the 507 possessed an ideal foundation for BMW’s robust twin-carburetor V-8 engine. Depending on the gear ratio selected, the 507 was capable of 125 to 135 mph and offered brilliant acceleration, sprinting to 60 mph in less than 10 seconds. Two years after a prototype was shown at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City, production cars began to be delivered. By then, the retail figure was nearly $9,000 – well above the originally proposed midscale price point, and which ultimately limited the car’s success. Nevertheless, the BMW attracted a number of high-profile celebrity customers, including pop icon Elvis Presley and motorsports hero John Surtees. Sales from 1957 to 1959 totaled just 254 units – a mere quarter of the hoped target. Time, however, has shown the car to be both visionary and influential. The styling cues pioneered on the BMW 507 have echoed through much of BMW production of the last 70 years, finding their truest acknowledgement in the Z8 Roadster introduced in 1998. The BMW 507 presented here, chassis 70010, was the 10th built and finished in a refined Alteifenbein (Old Ivory) paint scheme. Delivered on February 11, 1957, to Gebr. Spicker Automobil-GmbH of Duisburg, Germany, this example was equipped with the optional Becker-Autosuper Mexico radio, according to its BMW Birth Certificate. The car’s first owner is not recorded, though it appears to have migrated west to Holland. A period photograph depicts 70010 wearing Dutch license plates, while an “NL” nationality plate remained affixed to the car after it arrived in the US. By the early 1970s, this example was in Ohio with BMW enthusiast Mayer Robbins. Richard Margolis first encountered the 507 under Robbins’ ownership and, after persistent approaches, finally was able to buy it in 1978. Period photographs show the BMW still finished in white and generally quite original at the time. Upon acquiring the car, Margolis began a basic refurbishment before ultimately embarking on a total restoration in the mid-1990s. The 507 was stripped to bare metal and repaired where necessary before being repainted in its current shade of rich burgundy, while the upholstery was retrimmed in black leather and piped in red. To match the interior, a black steering wheel and gear-knob were also sourced and fitted. After completing the restoration, Mr. Margolis toured and showed the car regularly for the next 33 years. In 2011, the BMW was acquired by the current owner, a prominent collector in the Northeast. Over the last 15 years, the car has run the Colorado Grand and been shown at numerous concours events, including the local Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, where it won the BMW class in both 2018 and 2026. Among the most iconic, beautiful, and desirable European sports cars of the 1950s, the BMW 507 is a highly sought-after model eligible for many of the most popular road touring events, including the 1000 Miglia. This well-maintained and proven tour car offers its next custodian the rare opportunity to enjoy one of the 1950s’ most iconic sports cars in today’s premier touring events. car

Estimate:$1,800,000

View all items fromGooding Christie'sorVehicles