This Rare BMW 507 Roadster Series II Is On Sale

BMW announced in October that Skytop will only be produced in modest quantities of 50 units for consumers.

Right now, if you don’t want to wait for the upcoming Skytop, there is another BMW Roadster you can buy.

Next month, RM Sotheby’s will auction off a gorgeous 1958 507 Roadster Series II in Paris.

The elegant two-door is still among the most attractive cars the German luxury brand has ever produced, nearly 70 years after it first came off the assembly line.

It debuted in the middle of the 1950s and was first intended to rival luxury sports cars like the Mercedes-Benz 300SL by providing a combination of breathtaking appearance and remarkable performance.

The BMW 507’s history lives on as a testament to automotive quality and craftsmanship, even if its production period was comparatively brief.

In 1954, German-American automobile designer Albrecht von Goertz was hired by BMW to assist in designing the vehicle.

Having had experience working with several American automakers, Von Goertz contributed a unique flair to the project.

Like its predecessors, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL and Porsche 356 Speedster, the 507 owes its existence to the American auto importer Max Hoffman.

The businessman persuaded BMW that American fans were keen to see a convertible version of the 501 and 502 coupes in the mid-1950s.

When the BMW 507 was introduced at the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show, its streamlined and sophisticated design attracted notice right away.

Thanks to a 3.2-liter V-8 engine that produces 150 horsepower and propels the car to a high speed of 122 mph, it offers more than respectable performance.

The BMW 507 Being Auctioned

The 507 with chassis number 70136, which is being sold by RM Sotheby’s, was shipped to Havana from the Ivory White factory.

In the late 1980s, it was sent back to Germany after thirty years in the Cuban capital.

It has undergone extensive restoration in the years since, and its center-lock Rudge wheels and folding soft top (a rare hard top is also available) have been refinished in a glossy black finish.

Grey leather seats and door cards adorn the cabin, which offers greater space because it’s a Series II example.

The eight-cylinder, period-correct engine beneath the hood is equally impressive, and although it might not be the replica, that mill is also included in the deal.

The 507 Roadster will be up for auction during the February 4–5 Paris sale hosted by RM Sotheby’s.

Given the sports car’s rarity and condition, it is not unexpected that the auction house has high expectations for it, anticipating that the selling price will be between $1.8 million and $2.1 million.