A rare, unrestored 1958 BMW 507 with nearly 50 years of single-family ownership will cross the block at Villa d’Este 2025.
One of the most iconic sports cars of the postwar era, a remarkably original 1958 BMW 507 Series II Roadster, will be offered at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Auction on May 24, 2025, by Broad Arrow Auctions. With an estimated value between €2,000,000 and €2,300,000, the car stands out not only for its rarity—just 252 units were built—but for its extraordinary provenance and preservation.
Chassis number 70127 was delivered new in April 1958 to Wilhelm Bartels of Braunschweig, Germany, who gifted it to his 17-year-old wife, Elisabeth. The Federweiss-painted roadster, with a two-tone black and white interior, remained in the Bartels family for an astonishing 46 years. During that time, it was consistently maintained by the same mechanic, who also carried out a front disc brake upgrade—a testament to the meticulous care it received.
Regarded as a design triumph by Albrecht Graf von Goertz, the 507's sculpted aluminum body, paired with a 3.2-liter V8 and four-speed manual transmission, aimed to rival the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. However, its steep price tag—more than twice its projected cost—led to limited production and made it a choice only for the elite. Celebrity owners included Elvis Presley, Alain Delon, and Ursula Andress.
Following its sale by the Bartels family in 2004, the car passed to Horst Kölpin, who preserved its condition while respecting its legacy. In 2018, it entered the hands of only its third owner. Remarkably, just seven kilometers have been added since that transition.
Accompanied by its original German registration document and factory-issued owner’s manual, this unrestored example is eligible for premier concours and driving events around the world. It offers collectors a rare opportunity to acquire one of the most desirable and historically significant BMWs ever built—one with a story as elegant as its design. See it here.
