1957 BMW 507 Roadster

Removing the issues of performance, reliability and dealer service— significant considerations in 1957—the 507’s charms rise to the surface

by Donald Osborne

In the early 1950s, BMW covered opposite ends of the automotive spectrum. On the one hand, R24 motorcycles and Isetta bubble cars provided inexpensive transportation for the average German citizen. On the other hand, the large and well-appointed 501 was intended for the upper middle class and was powered by the pre-war hemi-head, inline 6-cylinder engine used on the sporty 328.

Despite being underpowered for its size, the 501 was well received once production began in 1952. By 1954, BMW had finally solved its power problem with the introduction of the 502, which carried a 2.6-liter V8. Finally, in an effort to counter offerings from Mercedes, BMW unveiled two new models at the 1955 Frankfurt show. The 503 was offered as a coupe or cabriolet, and carried a 140-horsepower development of the original V8, now enlarged to 3.2 liters. It was the 507, however, that stole the show.

Designed by Count Albrecht Goertz, an established industrial engineer based...