BMW 507 (1956)

The BMW 507 become a roadster produced through BMW from 1956 to 1959. It is notion through many to be one of the maximum stunning cars ever produced.The BMW 507 become the brainchild of BMW importer Max Hoffman, who in 1954 persuaded the BMW control to provide a roadster model of the BMW 502 that would compete with Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz sports activities cars.Hoffman driven for fashion dressmaker Count Albrecht von Goertz, who additionally designed the cutting-edge BMW 503, because the fashion dressmaker, over present designs through Ernst Loof, whose sketches Hoffman felt had been now no longer commercially viable. Goertz become employed through BMW in November 1954. BMW engineer Fritz Friedler become assigned to layout the mechanical package, the use of present additives anywhere possible.The 507 made its debut on the Frankfurt Auto Show in September 1955. Production commenced in November 1956. Max Hoffman meant the 507 to promote for approximately $five,000 U.S., which he believed might permit a manufacturing run of five,000 devices a year. Instead, excessive manufacturing charges driven the fee in Germany to DM 26,500, riding the U.S. rate first of all to $nine,000 and ultimately $10,500.Intended to restore BMW's wearing image, the 507 as an alternative took BMW to the brink of bankruptcy -- the organisation's losses for 1959 had been DM 15 million.

The organisation misplaced cash on every 507 built, and manufacturing become terminated early in 1959. Only 252 had been built, plus prototypes. Fortunately for the organisation, an infusion of capital from Herbert Quandt and the release of new, less expensive fashions (the BMW 700, Isetta and subsequently the 'New Class' 1500) helped the organisation recover.The 507 prototype stays a milestone version for its appealing styling, which attracted a few well-known buyers. American icon Elvis Presley, then with the United States Army in Germany, become the maximum noteworthy 507 purchaser, shopping for a white coloured version in 1959 for US$3,500, a fortune on the time. He introduced it returned with him to the United States, however gave it away as a gift to one in all his maximum well-known co-stars, the Swiss-born actress Ursula Andress, in 1963. She saved it for a few two decades and, in 1997, it become offered at an public sale for US$350,000, the maximum ever accomplished for the sale of a 507 version. Another well-known proprietor become John Surtees, who become given a 507 through MV Agusta (he nevertheless owns it). It is thought 80% of 507s nevertheless survive, a tribute to the car's appeal, and good-situation or absolutely restored fashions fetch between $275,000-$300,000 at public sale.

The styling of the 507 later prompted the BMW Z8 and BMW Z3.The 507 shared the body of the 503, shortened from 2835 mm (111.6 in) to 2479 mm (97.6 in). Overall duration become 4835 mm (172.6 in), and typical peak become a low 1257 mm (49.five in). Curb weight become approximately 1,485 kg (2,835 lb). The frame become hand-shaped of aluminum, and no fashions had been precisely the same.

Front suspension become parallel double wishbones, with torsion bar springs and an anti-roll bar. Rear suspension had a stay axle, additionally sprung through torsion bars, and placed through a Panhard rod and a central, transverse A-arm to manipulate acceleration and braking forces.

Brakes had been Alfin drum brakes of 284.five mm (11.2 in) diameter, and strength brakes had been optional. Late-version 507s had the front disc brakes.The engine become the aluminum alloy BMW OHV V-eight, of 3.2 L (195.eight in³) displacement, with pushrod-operated overhead valves. It had Solex Zenith 32NDIX -barrel carburetors. It rated a hundred and fifty hp (111.nine kW) DIN, with a hundred and sixty hp (119.four kW) optional. It become mated to a four-velocity guide transmission with diverse rear-quit ratios optional. It become able to 0-60 mph (0-ninety six km/h) in approximately 10 seconds, with a pinnacle velocity of approximately a hundred twenty five mph (two hundred km/h) relying on gearing.