The History BMW had a fine pre-war heritage that culminated in the crisp 328, but it didn't resume car manufacturing until 1952 with the curvy but slightly plump six-cylinder 501 saloon. The 502 was similarly styled, then, wallop, at the Frankfurt show of late 1955 they hit us with two stunners, both designed by Count Albrecht Goertz, an industrial designer who worked for Studebaker before setting up a styling studio in New York. The 503 was merely beautiful. The 507 was more, much more, a delicious fantasy made real, not flashy, but dramatic and with a noble poise and powerful presence.
Mercedes had already unveiled its 300SL in 1954 and this was BMW's riposte. BMW's finances were precarious and this stunning roadster was going to straighten them out, winning sales in the lucrative US market. The 507 even had the Americans' favourite engine configuration, a V8. But BMW's hopes for its LA boulevard beauty were a fantasy too. For its exotic looks and 125mph performance were more than matched by an orbital price. Production, which had been largely by hand, ended in March 1959 after just 252 - some say 253 - had been built. In fact the 507 took BMW to the brink of financial oblivion, yet if that had been the last BMW it would have been a beautiful way to die. Instead a humble bubble car helped them bounce back.
