Few automotive silhouettes in history capture the romance, ambition, and effortless glamour of mid-century sports cars quite like the BMW 507.

Born from the fertile mind of legendary American automotive importer Max Hoffman, the 507 was engineered to re-establish BMW as a dominant force in the lucrative post-war North American market.

Available for acquisition via Sealed by RM Sotheby’s for £POA (Price On Application), this stunning 1957 BMW 507 Roadster Series II represents the absolute pinnacle of Bavarian automotive design.

Max Hoffman’s Vision & Goertz Design

In the mid-1950s, Max Hoffman held unprecedented influence as the exclusive US importer for European heavyweights like Jaguar, Porsche, and Mercedes-Benz.

Recognising an untapped appetite for an elegant European roadster positioned between the accessible Porsche 356 Speedster and the formidable Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, Hoffman convinced BMW’s board in Milbertshofen to build a bespoke open-top sports car.

To bring the project to life rapidly, BMW utilised an all-aluminium 3.2-litre V8 engine derived from their 501 and 502 saloons, mated to a shortened 503 chassis.

However, any mechanical modesty was completely eclipsed by the breathtaking, hand-shaped aluminium coachwork designed by Count Albrecht von Goertz.

With its sweeping flanks, aggressive kidney grille, and low-slung stance, the 507 was an immediate design triumph when it debuted at the 1955 Frankfurt Auto Show.

The Refined Series II Architecture

Despite overwhelmingly positive acclaim, production costs spiralled out of control during manufacturing.

Rather than selling at Hoffman’s intended $5,000 price point, the 507 arrived in US showrooms at over $9,000—making it vastly more expensive than a Jaguar XK and even out-pricing the dominant 300 SL Gullwing.

As a result, total production halted at just 252 examples between 1956 and 1959, securing its status as one of the rarest European sports cars ever created.

Of those 252 roadsters, only 218 were built in the desirable Series II specification.

The Series II models introduced essential ergonomic upgrades, including a revised dashboard layout, increased seat travel, a cabin rear parcel shelf, and a downsized 66-litre fuel tank that dramatically expanded usable boot space.

“With only 218 Series II examples ever constructed, this Graphite Grey 507 stands as an irreplaceable centrepiece for any world-class automotive collection.”

This particular chassis was completed by BMW in October 1957 and delivered new to its first owner in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

After spending its early years in the States, the car eventually returned to Europe, residing in prestigious private collections in the Netherlands and Germany.

€350,000 Martini Garage Restoration

Between 2014 and 2015, the 507 underwent a complete, nut-and-bolt restoration carried out by the famed specialists at Martini Garage in Heilbronn, Germany, at a cost of approximately €350,000.

The car was painstakingly refinished in a sophisticated colour combination of Graphite Grey Metallic over a supple beige leather interior, accompanied by a contrasting factory hardtop finished in Feather White.

Shown sparingly—including an appearance at the 2017 Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance—and maintained in pristine mechanical order, the car remains in exceptional condition throughout.

Feature Specification	Vehicle & Historic Detail
Acquisition Price	£POA (Price On Application via RM Sotheby’s)
Engine & Output	3.2-Litre Type-507/1 All-Aluminium V8 (150 bhp)
Production Rarity	One of 218 Series II Examples (252 Total 507s Built)
Restoration History	€350,000 Full Restoration by Martini Garage (2014–2015)
Colourway Specification	Graphite Grey Metallic w/ Beige Leather & Feather White Hardtop

The 507 served as the direct stylistic inspiration for the iconic BMW Z8 four decades later. Offered via Sealed by RM Sotheby’s (£POA), this 1957 BMW 507 Roadster Series II is a monumental piece of motoring art ready for its next custodian.

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