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A Stunning BMW
black mamba
Registered Users Posts: 8,321 Major grins
This gorgeous car is a 1959 BMW 507. In 1954, the U.S. importer for BMW, Max Hoffman, encouraged BMW to produce this car to challenge the 300 SL just introduced by Mercedes. In 1955, the prototype 507 was shown at a big New York show held at the Waldorf-Astoria. Late in 1956, the car entered formal production.
An anticipated selling price of $5,000 was adjusted upward to over $10,000 by the time it reached the market. Production cost for the car had been grossly under-estimated. The high price stunted sales and only 252 of these jewels were produced. What had been intended to bring glory to the BMW line, almost took the company into bankruptcy. They lost money on every 507 made. However, it was immediately judged to be one of the most beautiful cars ever made....attracting many well-heeled buyers, like Elvis Presley.
These cars are highly sought after in today's collector car market. Their bold performance and styling, along with their rarity, have sent their pricing through the roof.
An anticipated selling price of $5,000 was adjusted upward to over $10,000 by the time it reached the market. Production cost for the car had been grossly under-estimated. The high price stunted sales and only 252 of these jewels were produced. What had been intended to bring glory to the BMW line, almost took the company into bankruptcy. They lost money on every 507 made. However, it was immediately judged to be one of the most beautiful cars ever made....attracting many well-heeled buyers, like Elvis Presley.
These cars are highly sought after in today's collector car market. Their bold performance and styling, along with their rarity, have sent their pricing through the roof.
I always wanted to lie naked on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. Cracker Barrel didn't take kindly to it.
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One of my all-time favorites. Thanks for the visit.
Tom
About 10 years ago, a gal I know found one in a garage in Savannah, GA. It had been sorely neglected. After about a year, she got the car fairly well sorted out....mechanically. Cosmetically, it needed quite a bit. She tired of the money drain and unloaded it ( an all too common story in the collector car world ). I think it went to a guy in Scotland.
Tom
http://www.moose135photography.com
Boy, John, that would make a super Blue Ridge Parkway cruiser, wouldn't it?
See you,
Tom
Super images Tom - love the guy's face behind the windscreen.
Had a '74 2002 - drove the crap out of it... loved the car - hated my repair bills.
I had my first experience with BMWs when my college roommate bought a ' 1600 ' in '63. I don't know how that car survived the pair of us. After college, he drifted off into a whole range of European iron. In '73, he got a 2002tii. Now THAT was a car.
In '74, I bought a Pontiac Trans Am SD 455. He and I got into running a few Gymkhana pylon races together. It was embarrassing....he could wax my fanny every time. All my power didn't help a bit.
I, myself, got the BMW bug in '82. I bought a 320i that became a mule for my hot rod tendencies. I had it lowered slightly, firmed up the suspension, and slapped a big Garret turbocharger on it. After some initial teething problems were worked out, that thing was an absolute stormer. It was Lapis blue and I put some gold BBS wheels on it. Damn, it was gorgeous.
In the following years, I had a couple of 5 series BMWs before I left the brand. Their niggling service requirements wore me out.
See you, buddy,
Tom
I was infected with the BMW virus in the early '80s when my father bought a 1979 525i. I drive a 1985 E30 320i