BMW 507 Roadster (1956-1959)
BMW had succeeded in creating one of the most beautiful sports cars of all time. The car was based on the technology of the 3.2 litre 502 saloon but with the power output increased to 150 bhp. The 507 was built to a design created by Albrecht Graf Goertz, a student of Raymond Loewy. This sports car working wonders for the image of Bayerische Motoren Werke.
The beautiful sports car was launched to the general public at the 37th IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1955. However, it wasn’t until well over a year later, in 1956, that BMW was able to start up production of cars for delivery to customers.
The engineering for the roadster designed by Albrecht Graf Goertz was based on the 502 3.2 litre super saloon. The timelessly elegant lightweight alloy bodywork was built on a chassis shortened by 35.5 cm compared to the saloon. The engineers increased the compression to coax 150 bhp from the light alloy V8 engine, instead of 140 bhp. The sports car powered by this engine could be ordered with three different rear-axle transmission ratios, with a range of top speeds between 190 and 200 km/h. By contrast with the saloon, the gearbox of the 507 was not positioned separately between the engine and the front seats, but was locked together directly with the engine.
As with the BMW 503, a revised second series of the 507 was produced from the end of 1957. This series 2 car can be immediately identified by the fuel filler door to the right at the rear. The much smaller tank had a capacity of 65 litres instead of 110 litres and is now located under the floor of the boot and no longer behind the seats. The instrument panel had also undergone changes, with a higher top edge and better facilities for installing the radio.
Despite the very positive response from the public at the launch of the super sports car, the anticipated orders, particularly from the USA, simply failed to materialize. Compared with several competitors, the output from the engine of the BMW 507 was not up to the high price tag. Only 251 BMW 507 roadsters had been manufactured by the time production came to an end in 1959.
General data
Construction………………………….1956 – 1959 (November 1956 – December 1959)
Number produce ……………………..251
Price……………………………………DM 26,500
Specifications
- Engine
Motortype……………………..8-Zylinder-V-Engine
Bore x Stroke (mm)…………..82 x 75
Capacity……………………….3168 ccm
Performance…………………..150 bhp at 5000 rpm
Top speed……………………..205 km/h (127 mph)
Compression…………………..7.8:1
Valves………………………….Overhead, central camshaft
Carburetion system…………..2 Zenith 32 NDIX dual-barrel downdraught carburettors - Powermode
Clutch…………………………..Single-plate dry clutch
Transmission…………………..Four-speed, central shift
Gearbox ratios…………………1 : 3.776 / 1 : 2.353 / 1 : 1.49 / 1 : 1 (sports gearbox: 1 : 3.54 / 1 : 2.202 / 1 : 1.395 / 1 : 1)
Reverse gear…………………..1 : 5.377 (sports gearbox: 1 : 5.03)
Drive transmission…………….1 : 3.7 (series) or 1 : 3.42 or 1 : 3.9 - Electric system
Generator………………………200
Battery…………………………12 V 56 Ah
Spark plugs…………………….Bosch W 24 RT 1 or Beru E 240/14 (with radio) - Suspension
Body/chassis…………………..Full protection box frame with tubular cross members
Front-wheel suspension………Independent suspension with dual wishbones, anti-roll bar
Rear-wheel suspension……….Banjo axle located by spring levers and Panhard rod
Wheel rims……………………..E 4.5 x 16
Tyres……………………………6.00 – 16
Front brakes…………………..Hydraulic duplex brakes with servo
Front brake diameter (mm)…..284
Rear brakes…………………….Hydraulic simplex brakes with servo
Rear brake diameter (mm)……284 - Measures and weight
Length x Width x Height (mm).4380 x 1650 x 1260
Wheel base (mm)………………2480
Front track (mm)………………1445
Rear track (mm)……………….1425
Empty weight (kg)…………….1220
Permissible total weight (kg)…1500
Fuel consumption (l/100 km)…17
