GTP Cool Wall: 1956-1959 BMW 507

[GranTurismo916]

1956-1959 BMW 507 nominated by @Crash

Engines: 3.2L V8 (M507/1)
Power: 148 hp
Torque: 173 lb-ft.
Weight: 1330 kg
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Drivetrain: Front engine, rear wheel drive
Body Styles: 2-door convertible
Additional Info: "Car was a commercial flop due to how expensive it was when new. Despite the price, BMW lost money on each one made, so much so that it nearly took the company to bankruptcy. Bond Girl Ursula Andress owned one. So did Elvis Presley."​

Spoiler: Additional Pics

 

[CSMDuty11]

You know, maybe nearly killing yourself making a car that you sell for way less than you made isn't the best idea?

 

[TheCracker]

Meh. Out-gunned by the Mercedes 300SL in every regard.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Yes, Elvis owned one... only to replace its engine for a Ford V8 because Elvis. Not sure if that was a wise idea, much like the creation of this car.

Sure, it was a good idea in paper, but BMW exaggerated, and the results were not pretty. BMW lost money in each and every one they made, and they missed certain death thanks to both their sedans and the destruction of Borgward (that left a gap that BMW filled with their own cars).

Don't get me wrong, I really like the 507, but it's simply not as iconic as the Gullwing. And it's an example as to how a car brand can screw up a good concept.

 

[GTP_Ingram]

Effortlessly classy, pretty and understated. Even cooler than the Merc 300SL to me (which I still would rate Sub Zero, in all honsesty), because it isn't as attention seeking.

 

[Roger the Horse]

A BMW that will never come into the range or even interest of a boy racer. You know what that means.

 

[OriginalCheezIt]

Any good car that nearly brings a manufacturer to its knees can be nothing other than Sub Zero.

 

[Stotty]

Beautiful proportions.

Cool.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

Seriously cool.

Looks great and one BMW that'll never fall into the hands of the chav crowd.

 

[Dennisch]

They build the staggering amount of 254 of these. So, they're rare as gold poo.

It only gets trumped by the E24 looks wise.
It sounds great with that V8.
This is one of those cars I was able to touch, but wasn't allowed to drive.

Falls short of Sub Zero because they're fetching more than a million nowadays. And that's something that should be reserved for special cars with a decent history. This is only special because they build so little of them them. And it almost killed BMW.

 

[Legro]

Unknown among fake M badges group. Cool.

 

[Adamgp]

Like the car, but it was trumped by the 300SL, plus it almost killed the company and near fatal business decisions aren't cool.

Balances out to a meh.

 

[Cano]

Second coolest BMW ever. Sub zero.

 

[E28]

A dreadful business decision, which did nearly kill the company. Which is uncool. But it's incredibly pretty, relatively unknown, and will never be plastered in '///M507' badges. But then the 300SL was better in almost every way (and didn't bring Mercedes to near bankruptcy) and it's only ever going to seen in museums or on Pebble Beach. Which is rather sad.

I'm still going to vote Sub-Zero though, because it's a beautiful 50's European roadster, and a BMW which will never suffer from the stereotype of BMW drivers or boy-racers. Plus I'm a fanboy.

 

[Dennisch]

M507

Not so fast.

Just look what the production name of the engine is.

M507/1.

 

[Wiegert]

Willing to cripple themselves to give the world little more than a couple hundred of these beauts.

Sub Zero.

 

[SomePlayaDude]

The LFA of the 50s.

 

[Dagger311]

Sub Zero.

 

[Ranman20]

Subzero, best BMW after the M3.

 

[axletramp]

Just beautiful. Would marry. SZ.

 

[Roger the Horse]

Second coolest BMW ever.

What are the first and third coolest?

 

[Heldenzeit]

I don't believe I've ever seen one in person. High cool.

Cooler than the M1 IMO.

 

[Cano]

What are the first and third coolest?

First:

Third:

 

[LivingWithGames]

Doesn't get sub-zero due to the fact stated in the OP, almost made BMW got bankrupt, the loss of money, and such.

If that never happened, it would be an easy Sub-Zero for me but I'm voting Cool. It's one of the fancy looking BMW's. Best looking perhaps for it's time.

 

[jeffgoddin]

Aged well, exclusive... and I can't imagine I'd be anything less than stunned if I saw somebody drive up in one. SZ

 

[Wolfe]

I don't care if it's associated with an overrated pop star, this is one of the Sub-Zero-est BMWs.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Sub Zero Obviously

edit: More relevant owner than Elvis.. John Surtees.

Also, whilst listening to the Americans might have cost BMW quite a bit of money, this car did help to give BMW's image a boost in a time when they were making the beautiful, but dated (from a contemporary perspective) Baroque angels, and bubble cars... no doubt this helped keep the interest in the brand alive whilst the 700 was busy saving the company at the start of the 1960's and in the run up to the Neue Klasse '00 saloons arriving shortly after.

 

[edawg456]

Meh.

 

[Jahgee]

Seriously Uncool because BMW

 

[GranTurismo916]

Seriously Uncool because BMW

Wat.