1956 BMW 501-8 Cylinder

First registered in December 1956, this Baroque Angel has been experienced by just four keepers to date. The previous keeper acquired the BMW in 2004. This keeper paid a visit to a large estate near London to look at some cars with a friend. On their arrival they were shown a collection of cars, gathering dust in a barn.

The barn find included a number of Rolls-Royces' and this 501. The friend persuaded the previous owner that this was the car to buy and so a deal was done. The previous keeper and his friend then set about restoring and maintaining the 501, achieving the finished condition you see today.

The 501 appears to have been incredibly lightly used if the recorded mileage is anything to go by. The odometer currently stands at 19,505 miles. Today this incredibly rare example is being sold by the adult children of the previous owner with the 501 having been a beloved member of the family since 2004.

In the austere years of post-war Britian, this BMW 501 must have been an incredible sight as it purred along the byways and highways. The combination of its striking maroon paintwork and impressively curvaceous bodywork would have made quite a statement in a car park full of black Austin, Morris and Wolseley saloons. Even accounting for the post-war weakness of the Deutschmark, this 501 would have been costly proposition compared to those indigenous offerings, too.

That paintwork is thought to be original, and given the propensity of red hues to fade, it seems life in a barn and presumably a garage or two has done it a favour. The condition is variable but not too much so. This car turns 70 years old next year, after all. There are some noticeable imperfections of course. These consist of a mixture of scuffed, cracked, missing or bubbling paint. The panel gaps look admirably consistent and the brightwork remains reasonably lustrous throughout. Cabin glass and light lenses present well and are presumed original. An early interpretation of the, now, signature BMW kidney grille can be found and admired up front.

The steel wheels are fully obscured by a set of chromed hub caps with BMW emblems at their centre. These are a little scarred and scratched in places but, again, given their age this is nothing too concerning or unexpected. We understand the 501 has not been used for a number of years so we would recommend the Michelin tyres being checked for serviceability. If you wish to assess the condition of this remarkable car in person, please contact us to arrange an appointment to view.

The 501’s status as a prestige offering can not be questioned as you open the doors which, charmingly, both open from the B-pillar. The condition inside this sophisticated cabin would suggest a more recent retrimming but no records are available to support this. The light tan upholstery is stitched into vertical box pleats and the seats appear well stuffed and commodious. The individual front seats butt up to each other to create a full width bench effect. The rear seats are identically trimmed and a fold down, central armrest also features.

The light beige corded carpets are protected by a full width BMW rubber mat in the front. The rear carpets are exposed and appear to be clean, unworn and well fitted. The headlining is courtesy of a biscuit coloured woven fabric which appears free of rips, tears or major staining. The door cards are tightly trimmed and featured chromed furniture.

The dashboard is finished in wood veneer which is a little rough and ready in placed. A wooden radio blanking plate has been jerry-rigged in place, for example. There are plenty of charming, mid 1950’s Germanic highlights in here, too. The cream coloured, Bakelite steering wheel is a delight. The rim is textured for optimal grip and the twin banjo spokes support a circular horn rim. A religious figure of unknown origins adorns the boss – perhaps the patron saint of high end luxury saloons. The VDO instruments are a delight as is the roof mounted clock. The boot is usefully commodious and is trimmed with a fitted rubber mat and home to a spare wheel and tyre.

The 501’s 2.6-litre, OHV, V8 engine was loosely based on the Oldsmobile Rocket V8. The German firm made a few tweaks of course, most notably using an aluminium block with cast iron cylinder liners. A single, two barrel Solex carburettor was fitted and resulted in an original output of around 100bhp. This propelled the 501 to within a whisker of a 100mph top speed.

Modest by today’s standard but sufficient for BMW to claim it was the fastest production saloon of its day. A four speed manual transmission is fitted with a floor mounted gear lever.

The 501 has had very limited use in recent years so a mechanical recommissioning or a diligent mechanical inspection, at least, would be recommended. The engine bay remains in a highly original condition with all the expected data plates noted. The inner panels all look cleans and straight in the context of a virtual septuagenarian. The underside is solid looking and appears to remain well protected from the elements.

There’s not a huge archive of paperwork on hand here, but the V5 Registration Document is present. This 501’s status as an Historic Vehicle classifies it as zero rated for road tax and MoT exempt. A handful of earlier MoTs in hard copy are present.

A period BMW owners’ manual is included as are a few invoices for work undertaken during different stages of this car’s long history.

The 501 was a true tour de force from a company that had been completely gutted just a few years earlier. The sublime and sophisticated V8 was a post-war first for a German manufacturer. The exalted price in the context of a still fragile economic landscape ensured that the 501 was always a vanishingly rare Baroque Angel.

While not a UK-built model, BMW (Concessionaires) GB played a crucial role in making the 501 available in the UK by converting left-hand drive models to right-hand drive. We expect that the number of those UK cars remaining can be counted on the thumbs of one hand... and you could well be looking at it. If you demand that your classic cars render hens’ teeth commonplace, are built like safes and are baroque and angelic in equal measure, then look no further.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £15,000 - £20,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.