1959 BMW 503 Coupé

With a price of 30,000 Deutsche Mark, the BMW 503 was extremely expensive even for affluent customers at the time. Unlike the 507, the 503 was offered as both a convertible and a coupe. Under the long hood, it had a V8 engine producing 140 horsepower, which was later upgraded to the 150 horsepower engine from the 507. The 503 remains a rarity to this day but has always lived in the shadow of the legendary 507. And both V8 models nearly bankrupted BMW.

Photos: Simon Clay ©2022 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

1959 BMW 503 COUPE

In the 1950s, the legendary 300 SL Gullwing W198 was the ultimate in automotive excellence. Design, performance, image — everything was just right with the gullwinged beauty sporting the big star. To bring some competition into the mix, Max Hoffman had yet another brilliant idea. The U.S. importer of noble German products had already helped Porsche break through in the United States and now he brought Albrecht Graf von Goertz into the picture, who had already designed the BMW 507. Goertz was given the task of creating a luxurious sports car in pontoon shape with a classic BMW kidney grille: the BMW 503.

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Hoffman had promised the Munich-based company that he could sell several thousand vehicles at a price of about $12,500. However, the price ended up being 29,500 Deutsche Mark — too much not only for American customers. And it wasn't even due to excessive demands from the management. With its welded tubular frame construction, aluminum panels, and lightweight V8 engine, the 503 was very expensive to produce. Although it was equipped with all the refinements, sales figures remained low. In 1959, BMW pulled the plug on the project. Only 413 units were produced in total, including 273 coupes, at Baur in the Swabian region — that's why a BMW 503 is extremely rare today.

Alongside the sporty 507 roadster, the 503 was positioned as a grand tourer. It may not be as sexy as the two-seater 507, as it appears more modest and bourgeois in comparison. Even the curved «Baroque Angels» of the 501/502 series received more attention than the cleanly designed 503. However, the elegant 503 is a coupe with a view: without any obstructing B-pillars, it offers a wide-angle panorama. The cockpit delights with its logic, attention to detail, and simplicity. The 90-degree V8 engine with its twin Zenith carburetors runs smoothly and refined, impressing with its harmonious power delivery. The 16-inch wheels painted in body color are typical of the 1950s, and an emblem on the rear proudly indicates the engine.

The 503 is not designed for a particularly sporty driving experience, and it doesn't appreciate pushing its limits. The over 60-year-old hydraulic drum brakes alone serve as a cautionary reminder: there is only a narrow line between not responding at all and biting down hard.

The steering is a chapter of its own. Anyone expecting BMW-typical crisp feedback, uncompromising precision, and a robust performance will find themselves alone on this matter with the 503. The absence of any feedback is absolute, and there is no hope for it with the spindly Bakelite steering wheel.

However, those who set aside the «hot-blooded» mode and treat the coupe with an adjusted driving style experience the Dolce Vita of the 1950s. The absence of B-pillars, large windows, and a sunroof bring light and air into the cockpit. The V8 engine hums warmly and willingly, the feather-light five-speed manual transmission and smooth power delivery make up for the missing characteristics of modern BMWs. The contemporary Becker Mexico radio plays the accompanying music. The BMW 503 Coupe is in a class of its own, a long-misunderstood milestone in German automotive history, and highly sought after by collectors due to its low production numbers. The lack of customer interest during the production years unfairly cast a negative light on the 503 with one of the most characterful engines BMW has ever built. The long hood, the 2+2 seating configuration, and the spacious trunk make the 503 Coupe an elegant grand tourer to this day. Back then, it was exorbitantly expensive and doomed to fail, but today it stands harmonious, beautiful, and extremely rare. The fact that the beige beauty with light brown leather interior, offered for 140,000 to 180,000 pounds at the London auction, found no buyer is not a tragedy. True style and character often reveal themselves at a second glance...

TECHNICAL DATA BMW 503 Coupe

• Year of Manufacture: 1959
• Engine: V8
• Displacement: 3,168 cc
• Max Power: 103 kW (140bhp)
• Max Torque: 216 Nm at 3,800 rpm
• Transmission: 5-speed manual
• Drive: Rear-wheel drive
• L/W/H in mm: 4,750/1,710/1,440
• Weight: 1,500 kg
• Acceleration 0-62mph/0-100 km/h: 12.5 seconds
• Top Speed: 115/190 km/h
• Base Price 1959: 31,500 Deutsche Mark
• Today: 140,000 — 180,000 British Pounds

Characteristic of its time: the thin steering wheel. Even the radio is authentic and was considered high-tech back then. The leather seats with beautiful patina breathe the spirit of the 1950s, as do the small round gauges and loving details. Fortunately, nothing has been modernized here.