This BMW 507 Series II Could Become One Of The Most Expensive BMWs Ever

A 1959 BMW 507 Series II is building up momentum to become one of, if not the, most expensive BMW sold. At the time of writing, the repainted, refurbished, then refreshed 507 is sitting on a bid of $1,500,251 with seven days of bidding left on Bring A Trailer. While it’s unlikely to beat John Surtees’ 1957 BMW 507 Touring Sports Car that sold for just over $5,000,000, it’s not inconceivable. That sold in 2008, and the 507 is still getting more valuable to collectors as it gets older. Right now, this one would slot into fourth on the list of most expensive BMWs in the world (the top three are all 507s).

The Car That Could Break Records

The 507 available on Bring A Trailer left the factory with white paint, but is believed to have become Coral Red during its 2012 refurbishment. Going back to Presley’s 507, his came from the factory in white, but he had it painted red due to fans leaving lipstick marks on the car. The car for auction also has body-colored wheels with racing-style knock-off wingnuts holding them on. Inside, it has a tan interior which, in our opinion, would look better with the original paint color. Features include an ashtray, a Becker Mexico radio, and the optional hardtop. It also comes with a matching set of luggage, a scale model of the car, and a clean Montana title.

The 507 featured a 3.2-liter V8 with dual carburettors and a ZF four-speed manual transmission connecting it to the driveshaft to the rear wheels. It has around 21,000 miles on the clock and, given its value, will likely have many more added to it in the future. It’s a pure collector’s piece now.

The listing showcases extensive documentation of not just the car and its finer details, but the restoration process it’s undergone, too, cataloged in hundreds of photos, a BMW Birth Certificate indicating it rolled off the factory floor on 6 October 1958 and was delivered on 31 October the same year, and a ton of other documentation from BMW Classic.

Why The BMW 507 Is Such An Icon

If you’re not familiar with the BMW 507, it was built in the mid-1950s at the suggestion of the legendary car importer Max Hoffman. The idea was to bring a new mid-priced sports car to the US at a time when European sports cars were peaking in popularity due to the veterans of World War II who had discovered the joy of them while serving in Europe. Ultimately, it ended up too expensive. BMW made a big financial loss on the 507, causing it to flirt with bankruptcy, having built just 252 between 1956 and 1959. However, due to its beautiful design and influence on the industry, it has become one of BMW’s most celebrated classics.

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It also didn’t hurt the 507’s legend that Elvis Presley bought two, one when he was stationed in Germany and one later for Ursula Andress. Other notable owners that, among others, include Fred Astaire, Bernie Ecclestone, and, of course, the legendary racer John Surtees.

With seven days left on the bidding, we’re expecting the value of this one to climb rapidly. The three most expensive BMWs ever sold were 507s, with the most expensive ever being Surtees’ 507 Touring Sports Car. That was a very special individual car, so we doubt this will eclipse that, but another Series II occupies the second spot, selling for $2.4 million, and this could easily surpass that.

Source: Bring A Trailer