When introduced at New York in the summer of 1955, the BMW 507 is highly praised. This roadster will compete with the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, it will be cheaper and American customers will like its elegance.
Production does not start until November 1956. Its costs are much higher than planned and the selling price has become excessive. BMW continues until 1959 this model that loses money. The managers of the brand had hoped to sell 5,000 cars per year. Overall, only 252 copies were built.
A motorcycle dealer in London, Jack Surtees has a professional relationship with the importers of Porsche and BMW. His son John is a prodigy of motorcycle racing, world champion in the 500 cc class in 1956 at the age of 22 with MV Agusta.
In 1957 in Hockenheim, John is seduced by the 507 brought to the BMW pit by the head of development of the brand who allows the young champion to drive it. When Agusta announces to John that his performances have exceeded his salary and deserve a gift, he asks for a 507. It is too expensive : they are trading for a fifty-fifty price split.
John is disappointed : his 507 is sluggish in hill climbing. The BMW officer tells him that the Hockenheim car had a more powerful engine and he agrees to modify John's car with a similar specification.
Deceased in 2017, John Surtees had kept and used throughout his life this one of a kind 507, even quietly resisting against an intimidation by Enzo Ferrari requesting him to give up German cars. It is estimated £ 2M for sale by Bonhams at Goodwood on July 13, lot 330. Please watch the video prepared by Goodwood Road and Racing with Bonhams.
SOLD for £ 3.8M including premium
Production does not start until November 1956. Its costs are much higher than planned and the selling price has become excessive. BMW continues until 1959 this model that loses money. The managers of the brand had hoped to sell 5,000 cars per year. Overall, only 252 copies were built.
A motorcycle dealer in London, Jack Surtees has a professional relationship with the importers of Porsche and BMW. His son John is a prodigy of motorcycle racing, world champion in the 500 cc class in 1956 at the age of 22 with MV Agusta.
In 1957 in Hockenheim, John is seduced by the 507 brought to the BMW pit by the head of development of the brand who allows the young champion to drive it. When Agusta announces to John that his performances have exceeded his salary and deserve a gift, he asks for a 507. It is too expensive : they are trading for a fifty-fifty price split.
John is disappointed : his 507 is sluggish in hill climbing. The BMW officer tells him that the Hockenheim car had a more powerful engine and he agrees to modify John's car with a similar specification.
Deceased in 2017, John Surtees had kept and used throughout his life this one of a kind 507, even quietly resisting against an intimidation by Enzo Ferrari requesting him to give up German cars. It is estimated £ 2M for sale by Bonhams at Goodwood on July 13, lot 330. Please watch the video prepared by Goodwood Road and Racing with Bonhams.
SOLD for £ 3.8M including premium
Gorgeous ex-John Surtees BMW 507 complete with hardtop at the Bonhams Goodwood FoS sale...#bmwhttps://t.co/rvRO1KKTBb pic.twitter.com/kAxb5f0MBP
— Hagerty Price Guide (@hagertyguide) July 11, 2018
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