Vehicle Description
At the end of WW2, BMW was in a much worse state than Mercedes-Benz
in Stuttgart because one of its major plants - the old Dixi works
at Eisenach in Saxony - was within the Russian Zone and would soon
be cut off from the West behind the 'Iron Curtain'. Nevertheless,
BMW recommenced car production in 1952 with the introduction of the
501 luxury saloon, a bullish choice for an impoverished country
still recovering from the ravages of war. The 501 had been
announced in 1951 and first appeared with a development of the
company's pre-war six-cylinder engine before gaining a much needed
performance boost, in the form of a 2.6-liter V8, in 1954. Designed
by Alfred B�ning, this new power unit had been inspired by American
V8s but was constructed entirely of aluminum rather than cast iron.
Towards the end of 1955 a 3.2-liter version was introduced, and the
big saloon's model designation changed to '502'. Enticed by New
York based importer Max Hoffman and BMW sales manager Haans
Grewenig, BMW became convinced that premier GT and sports cars
would appeal to wealthy North American clientele. Though
competition was stiff, Hoffman envisioned a growing market of
affluent performance GT enthusiasts building in the states. Though
initially conceived with modest price tags, the 503 arrived
substantially over budget even though many of the mechanical
components had already been developed for the 501 and 502 luxury
sedans. Simply stated, BMW's proud over-engineering and demanding
internal requirements for excellence would not be compromised. Even
the hand-crafted aluminum body, built at BMW Karrosserieentwurf,
was assembled at great cost, including a cast alloy dashboard,
itself a work of art. Delivered to production at enormous internal
expense from 1956-1959, the 503 offered features and performance
that competed handily with contemporary offerings. But the costly
503, produced alongside the 507, was constructed to such exacting
standards it nearly forced BMW into bankruptcy. Although a fiscal
challenge for BMW, the 503 would generate important brand equity
for BMW, but sales were less than expected, a result, while
challenging at the time, that has since become woven into the
rarity of these cars. Built with the finest mechanical components,
the overhead valve 3.2 liter V8 aluminum block engine, upgraded
with twin carburetors and improved lubrication via chain-driven oil
pump, delivered 140 hp in a light and nimble package. And while
performance was impressive for the time, the remarkable feature of
the 503 was the undeniably beautiful handmade aluminum coachwork,
penned by designer Albrecht von Goertz, who concurrently designed
the celebrated 507 roadster. Available in both coupe and
convertible variants, the chassis was developed using a ladder
frame derived from the 502. Steering and suspension from the 502
were also utilized with some improvements incorporated to the front
suspension system. The gearbox and drum brakes were further derived
from the 502 with front disc brakes becoming available in 1957,
courtesy of John Surtees who had suggested this change for both the
507 and the 503, both of which Surtees owned. Offered with power
windows, the same hydraulic unit that powers the electric
convertible top and side windows, also powers the windows in the
coupe. This 503 is one of 274 Coupes produced during the three-year
production. According to the car's history file, it was first
registered February 27, 1959, to Dr. Elsbeth Karius of
Muggensturm/Rastatt and stayed with the good doctor for the next
fourteen years. The next caretaker was Herr Stefan Stahle, who
looked after the car until 1978, when it passed to Herr Ulrich
Vetter of Kreutzal, who would possess the coupe until 2002. Another
German owner kept the car for just a year, and the last two owners
each kept the 503 for ten years, first in Germany and most recently
in the UK. Today this BMW 503 presents as a captivating example
finished in ivory over a wonderfully preserved original tan leather
interior. Its light coloring is complemented by the generous
application of chrome lavished on both the exterior and interior
without interrupting the stunning Goertz design. The paint is
glossy and smooth, flowing gracefully over the alloy body panels.
The front and rear bumpers, headlight bezels, and other chrome are
all in excellent condition. The distinctive BMW emblems are the
only indications that viewers are not gazing at one of the finest
Italian designs. Indeed, upon the debut at the 1955 Frankfurt Motor
Show, even Battista "Pinin" Farina pronounced the 503 as the
prettiest car in the entire show. The interior is beautifully
preserved with rich, original leather with a charming character
earned through regular enjoyment. The dashboard sports an elegant
array of gauges with crisp lettering and bright numeric indication.
Further details include a sliding sunroof, Becker Mexico radio,
leather covered dashboard, and a gorgeous four-spoke ivory white
steering emulating, as their logo does, the high-speed prop spin
marking BMW's aviation heritage. The elegant interior continues to
the trunk lining and finishes in the trunk compartment which offers
ample room for luggage along with a full-sized matching spare
wheel. Under the hood, the BMW V8 engine is correctly detailed
utilizing original accessories and properly finished hardware. The
engine number, 30557, is consistent with numeric engine sequences
reflective of factory installation. Both the engine and engine
compartment have been restored and detailed including the silver
painted engine and accessories, cast iron exhaust manifolds,
correctly finished twin carburetors with stamped metal air
cleaners, and proper hardware, and a set of tools resides in a
dedicated BMW storage box on the cowl. In addition to the visual
condition, this BMW 503 offers both mechanical refinement and
operational confidence. The delicately muffled V8 engine is brisk
and responsive moving through all five gears. The comfortable
seating position offers expansive visibility and easy to reach
controls further enhanced by the pillarless design and sunroof.
Driving this BMW 503 it is easy to see how these cars delighted the
few but fortunate owners who purchased them new despite the
considerable financial losses BMW experienced lavishing the
absolute best in quality which nearly resulted in their demise. One
of the rarest and most desirable BMWs of the 1950s, It offers its
next owner exquisite styling, super performance, and sophisticated
German engineering in a very usable Grand Tourer package, eligible
for the finest driving events worldwide. Offers welcome and trades
considered. For additional details please view this listing
directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7649-1959-bmw-503-coupe/
