Germany 70 years ago… The young Federal Republic was building the economic miracle, the trade fair city of Frankfurt was celebrating the first IAA of the post-war era, and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG was presenting its very first prestige automobile there. BMW 501 was the name of the prototype of a gleaming chrome luxury sedan of baroque opulence that immediately dominated the headlines of the colorful newspapers. Not even experts had expected that the Munich company, which had previously been known for motorcycles and sporty models, would now try to outdo the established Opel Kapitän and the Stuttgart star carriers, which were held in high esteem by German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, with a new luxury cruiser. With counter-opening “suicide” doors and sultry contours, the Type 501 was reminiscent of times long past, but this BMW, popularly known as the “Baroque Angel,” was also good for sensations.

However, BMW followed suit, as in 1954 the BMW 502 debuted with the first light-alloy V8 built in larger series. The luxury liner with up to 118 kW/160 hp and a speed of 190 km/h thus became the Vmax hero for the left lane. Nevertheless, general managers and the moneyed aristocracy preferred more advanced models from other premium brands, and so the 501 and 502 models turned into a financial disaster for BMW that almost ended in the demise of the traditional company.

Nevertheless, the V8 models, hailed as the “kings of the Autobahn,” achieved respectable success. That’s why they weren’t retired until early 1964, while the end came for the six-cylinder models as early as 1958.

This BMW 502 V8 is one of only 39 of the particularly exclusive BMW 502 coupés and convertibles built at Baur, in which the hauteur liked to show themselves.