A highly original 1958 BMW 507 Series II Roadster with remarkable long-term ownership history to be auctioned at Villa d’Este 2025.
One of the most revered and collectible BMW models, a 1958 BMW 507 Series II Roadster, will be offered at the prestigious Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este Auction on May 24, 2025. Expected to fetch between €2,000,000 and €2,300,000, this remarkably original example carries a distinguished ownership history spanning nearly half a century.
Chassis number 70127, finished in its original shade of Federweiss over a two-tone black and white interior, was delivered new to Braunschweig, Germany, in April 1958. It was gifted by Wilhelm Bartels to his wife Elisabeth, who cherished the car as a treasured family member for 46 years. Regularly maintained by the same mechanic throughout her ownership, the 507 remained a well-loved and meticulously cared-for vehicle, preserving its authenticity and charm.
Powered by an all-aluminum 3.2-liter V8 engine paired with a four-speed manual transmission, the BMW 507 was a technological marvel of its era, producing 147.5 horsepower. Its elegant aluminum bodywork, penned by designer Albrecht Graf von Goertz, set new standards for sports car aesthetics when first unveiled at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in 1955.
Following the Bartels family's stewardship, the roadster passed to its second owner in 2004, and later to its third and current caretaker in 2018. In that time, the car has been maintained with exceptional care, seeing minimal mileage added over the past decade. Key features include a tasteful partial interior retrim, a new black soft top, and original-style body-color Rudge wheels.
Complete with its original German Kraftfahrzeugbrief and owner's manual, this unrestored BMW 507 represents an extraordinary opportunity for collectors. Its unmatched provenance, remarkable originality, and eligibility for the world’s most exclusive concours events firmly establish it as one of the finest mid-century sports cars ever produced—and a centerpiece for any prestigious collection.
