BMW 507 Historic Video

The BMW 507 was the brainchild of BMW importer Max Hoffman, who in 1954 persuaded the BMW management to produce a roadster version of the BMW 502 that could compete with Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz sports cars. Hoffman pushed for designer Count Albrecht von Goertz, who also designed the contemporary BMW 503, as the designer, over existing designs by Ernst Loof, whose sketches Hoffman felt were not commercially viable. Goertz was hired by BMW in November 1954. BMW engineer Fritz Friedler was assigned to design the mechanical package, using existing components wherever possible. The 507 made its debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September 1955. Production began in November 1956. Max Hoffman intended the 507 to sell for about $5,000 U.S., which he believed would allow a production run of 5,000 units a year. Instead, high production costs pushed the cost in Germany to DM 26,500 (later 29,950, driving the U.S. price initially to $9,000 and ultimately $10,500. Intended to revive BMW's sporting image, the 507 instead took BMW to the edge of bankruptcy -- the company's losses for 1959 were DM 15 million. The company lost money on each 507 built, and production was terminated in March, 1959. Only 252 were built, plus two prototypes. Fortunately for the company, an infusion of capital from Herbert Quandt and the launch of new, cheaper models (the BMW 700, Isetta and eventually the 'New Class' 1500) helped the company recover. The 507 prototype remains a milestone model for its attractive styling, which attracted some famous buyers. American icon Elvis Presley, then with the US Army in Germany, was the most noteworthy 507 purchaser, buying a white colored model in 1959 for US$3,500, a fortune at the time. He brought it back with him to the US, but gave it away as a present to one of his most famous co-stars, the Swiss-born actress Ursula Andress, in 1963. She kept it for some 20 years and, in 1997, it was sold at an auction for US$350,000. Another famous owner is John Surtees, who was given a 507 by MV Agusta (he still owns it). It is believed 80% of 507s still survive, a tribute to the car's appeal. Bernie Ecclestone's 507 fetched £430,238 ($904,000) at an auction in London in October 2007. The styling of the 507 later influenced the BMW Z8 and BMW Z3.

Added 24 May 2026