Rare Car Archive

Makes › BMW Germany › 507 · Rare production · 1956–1959 Very Rare

BMW
507

Goertz-designed V8 roadster; low-volume flagship that lost BMW money on every car

BMW 507 (Wikimedia Commons: BMW 507)
BMW 507 (Wikimedia Commons: BMW 507)
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0
252BuiltRegistry reported
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
252 Built
Years
1956–1959
Engine
Front-mounted all-alloy OHV V8 · 3,168 cc / 3.2 LFactory: 3,168 cc
Power
112 kW / 152 PSFactory: 150 hp · converted
Top speed
220 km/hFactory: 220 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Albrecht Goertz
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The 507 is regarded as the most celebrated post-war BMW: a Goertz-styled alloy V8 roadster conceived for wealthy American buyers at the urging of importer Max Hoffman. Its high cost and price kept production to about 252 cars and the project lost BMW money.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityVery Rare 252 · Built1,2
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productiontotal production examples (34 exported to USA) 2521,2 Factory production Registry reported

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Max Hoffman pushed BMW for a roadster priced just under the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, and Count Albrecht Goertz drew the alloy body. The car used an all-alloy OHV V8 of 3,168 cc with twin carburettors and a four-speed gearbox on a box-frame chassis. About 252 were sold between 1956 and 1959, 34 of them exported to the United States; most were Series II cars with a revised dashboard and relocated fuel tank. Owners included Elvis Presley and John Surtees.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard 507.

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutFront-mounted all-alloy OHV V83 Independently researched
Cylinders84 Independently researched
Displacement 3,168 cc / 3.2 LFactory: 3,168 cc3 Independently researched
Bore 82 mmFactory: 82 mm1,4 Independently researched
Stroke 75 mmFactory: 75 mm1,4 Independently researched
Compression ratio7.8:11 Independently researchedSupercars.net gives 7.5:1.
ValvetrainOHV, 2 valves per cylinder4 Independently researched
Fuel systemTwin carburettors5 Independently researched
Power 112 kW / 152 PSFactory: 150 hp · converted4Brochure figure; conceptcarz lists 153 BHP at 5000 rpm, Supercars.net spec table 140 bhp at 4800 rpm; an optional version of about 165 hp is mentioned.
Power at 5,000 rpm1 Independently researchedBelongs to conceptcarz 153 BHP figure.
Torque 236 NmFactory: 174 lb-ft · converted1 Independently researchedSupercars.net gives 222 Nm.
Torque at 4,000 rpm1,4 Independently researched

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxFour-speed synchromesh manual5 Independently researched
Gears44 Independently researched
Driven wheelsRear-wheel drive1 Independently researched

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisBox-frame chassis, alloy body5 Independently researched
Front suspensionDouble wishbones with torsion bars1 Independently researchedSupercars.net says coil springs.
Rear suspensionRigid axle with torsion bars1 Independently researchedSupercars.net says coil springs.
BrakesDiscs front, drums rear (as stated by source)4 Independently researched
SteeringPinion and sector1 Independently researched
Body constructionNot yet verified
MaterialsAluminium body and aluminium engine block/head on a tubular steel frame1 Independently researched
Wheelbase 2,480 mmFactory: 97.6 in · converted3 Independently researched
Length 4,379 mmFactory: 4,379 mm1 Independently researchedSupercars.net 4380 mm.
Width 1,651 mmFactory: 1,651 mm1 Independently researched
Height 1,301 mmFactory: 1,301 mm1 Independently researched
Front track 1,445 mmFactory: 1,445 mm4 Independently researched
Rear track 1,425 mmFactory: 1,425 mm4 Independently researched
Kerb weight 1,330 kgFactory: 2,940 lb · converted1 Independently researchedSupercars.net gives 1280 kg curb weight.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 220 km/hFactory: 220 km/h4Brochure claim; conceptcarz lists 125 mph, Supercars.net table ~200 km/h.
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
0–60 mph 8.8 s1,4 Independently researched
Standing ¼ mile 16.5 s4 Independently researched
Fuel tank 110 LFactory: 110 L4 Independently researched

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Series II cars (214 built) are identified by a revised dashboard arrangement and a relocated fuel tank, which freed space for the interior and the reclining soft top. Chassis, engine and body numbers should be checked; catalogues show engines are sometimes no longer the original unit.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    1959 BMW 507 Specifications & Dimensions Level B conceptcarz.com
    • 507 Production (1956-1959): 252; Plus 2 prototypes
    • Bore 82.0 mm
    • Stroke 75.0 mm
    • Compression 7.8:1
    • 153 BHP @ 5000 RPM
    • 174 Ft-Lbs (236 NM) @ 4000 RPM
    • @ 4000 RPM
    • Drive Type: Rear Wheel
    • Dual A-arms with torsion bars
    • Rigid axle with torsion bars
    • Steering Pinion and Sector
    • Aluminum body on tubular steel frame
    • Length 172.4 in | 4379 mm
    • Width 65.0 in | 1651 mm
    • Height 51.2 in | 1301 mm
    • Weight 2940 lbs
    • 0-60 mph 8.8 seconds
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    RM Sotheby's Paris 2020, lot 26: 1958 BMW 507 Roadster Series II Level C
    • 252 total production examples (34 exported to USA)
    Accessed 2026-11-11
  3. 3
    1958 BMW 507 Series II Roadster (Amelia Island 2014) Level C RM Sotheby's
    • 3,168 cc all-alloy overhead-valve V-8 engine
    • 3,168 cc all-alloy overhead-valve V-8
    • Wheelbase: 97.6 in.
    Accessed 2026-11-11
  4. 4
    1956 BMW 507 Series I Level B Supercars.net
    • 90° V8
    • bore 82.0 mm
    • stroke 75.0 mm
    • OHV 2 Valves / Cyl
    • sales brochure ... 150 hp from 3.2 litres
    • torque 222.0 nm @ 4000 rpm
    • 4-Speed Manual
    • front brakes Discs, rear brakes Drums
    • front track 1445 mm
    • rear track 1425 mm
    • top speed of 220 km/h or 136 mph
    • 0 – 60 mph ~8.8 seconds
    • 0 – 1/4 mile ~16.5 seconds
    • fuel capacity 110 litres
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  5. 5
    1958 BMW 507 Roadster Series II (Paris 2020) Level C RM Sotheby's
    • dual-carburetted V-8 engine
    • four-speed synchromesh gearbox
    • advanced box-frame chassis
    Accessed 2026-11-11

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