It’s virtually widespread to see Ferraris and outdated Bentleys crossing public sale blocks with million-dollar bids, however one ultra-rare BMW is about to make an look, and it’s anticipated to attract seven-figure bids. The BMW 507 is a rakish two-door automobile produced in exceedingly small numbers. In September, a novel instance will cross Bonham’s public sale block after spending the previous 4 many years of its life hidden away in a Philly storage.
BMW constructed simply 252 examples of the 507 between 1956 and 1960, making it one of many automaker’s rarest and most fascinating autos. The listing of notable 507 house owners consists of Elvis Presley and former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. The early Collection I examples are rarest, as solely 34 had been constructed within the first two years of manufacturing. This automobile is a Collection II, which got here alongside in 1957. The up to date mannequin featured a smaller gasoline tank and higher trunk house over its predecessor, whose outsized tank restricted cargo room and produced robust gasoline fumes within the cabin.
This 507 was bought new in Caracas, Venezuela, earlier than the present proprietor’s father purchased it within the late Seventies. Moderately than drive the automobile, or at the very least present it off, it spent 43 years in storage in Philadelphia earlier than reaching the public sale listings. Apparently, the automobile is only one of many 507s owned by the identical household.
The automobile’s leather-based upholstery is unique; Bonhams calls the situation “lived-in.” The outside was repainted within the Seventies with Pontiac Vivid Blue Metallic, and the automobile rides on a set of fascinating Rudge wheels. Below the hood, there’s a 193.3 cubic-inch V8 (simply shy of three.2 liters) that made round 150 horsepower when new. A ZF four-speed handbook gearbox got here commonplace, and the automobile was proven to achieve 62 mph from a standstill in simply over 11 seconds.
Bonhams estimates the automobile will pull between $1.8 million and $2.2 million when it crosses the public sale block on the Audrain Concours Public sale in Rhode Island this September. Whereas we’d hope that the following proprietor has a chance to drive and present the automobile, its price ticket and situation make it extra prone to see restricted, if any, motion.