Chassis No. 70110 In the realm of coveted sports cars hailing from the 1950s, the indelible imprint of Austrian-born, New York-based automotive importer Max Hoffman looms large. Thanks to his remarkable ability to recognize and exploit market niches, Hoffman attracted the attention of distinguished marques such as Porsche, Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, playing a pivotal role in helping each of them gain a foothold in the American automotive landscape. His profound influence extended beyond the mere facilitation of imports, guiding manufacturers in crucial product decisions. A staunch proponent of small, sporting models as a means of breaking into the American market, Hoffman's vision gave birth to such automotive gems like the Porsche 356 Speedster, Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, and the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe. With each new creation, Hoffman's intuition proved to be well aligned with the demands of the American clientele. By the mid-1950s, Hoffman was selling roughly one-third of Porsche's annual output to customers in the United States. Having more than achieved Porsche's American breakthrough, he set his sights on establishing another German manufacturer in North America, BMW. At the time, the Munich-based firm was still recovering from the heavy bombing its factories sustained during World War II, and its lineup of luxury sedans lacked anything resembling a halo sports car. Seeing what Hoffman had done for other manufacturers, BMW agreed to build a two-door roadster based on the 501 and 502 saloons to tempt American buyers. Hoffman tapped young protege Albrecht Graf von Goertz to design the new Roadster's sweeping lines—his first-ever entire car design project—while the mechanical underpinnings were handled by BMW technical director Fritz Fiedler. First unveiled to the public at New York's Waldorf-Astoria in August 1955, the gorgeous hand-formed aluminum shape of the BMW 507 is still hailed today as one of the finest accomplishments in the history of automotive design. Supremely elegant from every angle, the sensuous body featured a plunging nose with a slanted variation of BMW's trademark twin-kidney grille, sculpted front fenders, and purposeful chrome detailing around the headlights, windshield, and fender vents. Under its lithe alloy coachwork sat BMW's advanced all-aluminum 3.2-liter overhead-valve V8 engine producing a brisk 148 horsepower and paired with a four-speed synchromesh transmission. Yet despite its irresistible appeal, the consequence of the 507’s impressive performance and truly captivating aesthetics was its cost. Early promotional cars soared past Hoffman’s target price of $4,499, with each bespoke example ultimately costing nearly $10,000 at a time when the 300 SL Roadster retailed for closer to $7000. Just 252 examples were produced before production ceased in 1959. As a result, 507 ownership was limited to a select group of well-to-do clientele and high-profile celebrities, counting Elvis Presley, Alain Delon, Ursula Andress, John Surtees, and King Baudouin of Belgium among its exclusive list of owners. This breathtaking Series II example, chassis number 70110, is the 110th of just 253 BMW 507s ever crafted. According to its accompanying BMW Classic Zertifikat, this car was completed on 14 January 1958, complete with both a factory removable hardtop and distinctive factory exhaust tips. The car was originally finished as it appears today in understated Silbergrau (Silver Metallic), making it one of just 21 examples produced in this elegant color scheme. Upon completion, the car was displayed at the BMW Munich Pavillion before being sold to its first owner in May 1958. From its birthplace in Munich, this exceptional 507 embarked on a fascinating journey to Caracas, Venezuela—one of just 13 examples to grace the country. Its first owner was Gustavo Zingg, a German businessman and the preeminent Mercedes-Benz importer in Venezuela. Previous research from the BMW Classic Car Club of America indicates that the car returned to Germany circa 1960 where it would remain for the next half century, passing through the stewardship of Ludwig Hahn and later Nicholas Hahn. In 2005, the car changed hands to Erich Benz, under whose care it underwent an exquisite restoration from 2006-2008. In May 2014, then under the ownership of Hamburg resident Jan Onne, chassis 70110 returned to BMW Classic for an extensive inspection. The resulting factory expertise report —the revered "Black Book"—affirmed the car's exceptional originality, verifying its original chassis, suspension, Series II Girling disc brakes, and bodywork. Perhaps most remarkably, this 507 also retains its exceedingly rare date-stamped Rudge knock-off wheels—a feature that sets it apart even among its rarefied peers. The engine and transmission are original-type replacement components—the M507/1 aluminum alloy V8 being an unstamped late-production block with improved 11-bolt cylinder heads, while the transmission is a proper four-speed ZF unit. In the final originality evaluation, this 507 achieved an impressive 900 out of 1,000 points in BMW’s stringent evaluation system, placing it in Category 1 (the highest possible rating) with an overall condition grade of 1.6 noted to be between good and immaculate condition. Under American ownership since 2017, this 507 continues to present in spectacular condition, maintaining the high standards noted in its BMW Classic evaluation. The Silver Metallic coachwork displays superb finish quality, adorned with pristine brightwork including its delicate bumpers, headlamp surrounds, window trim, signature “spinning prop” BMW badges and kidney grilles. The factory-original date-stamped Rudge wheels, featuring body-colored centers and polished rims with BMW-branded knockoff hubs, are mounted with period-correct whitewall tires that perfectly complement the car's elegant profile. The dark silver-finished hardtop neatly contrasts the body panels and is joined by a black canvas soft top. The cabin showcases rich red leather with exquisite detailing—from the stitched finger pulls to the chrome-plated window winders. The seats show just the right amount of careful use, while the low-pile carpeting remains excellent throughout. The dashboard showcases a suite of jewel-like instruments, crowned by the Becker Europa radio and distinctive ivory-white steering wheel. Even the trunk compartment maintains this standard of excellence, featuring correct finishes and housing a matching date-coded Rudge spare wheel. The engine bay is equally impressive, presenting in show-worthy condition with correct finishes and hardware throughout. Furthermore, the original Hazet tool set remains housed in its dedicated engine bay compartment—a sophisticated touch rarely seen in sports cars of the era. This impeccably documented and rare 507 is accompanied by its BMW Classic Expertise Black Book and rarely seen 507 literature including an owner's manual and workshop manual. With its coveted factory authentication, impressive restoration, and elegant color combination, chassis 70110 is unquestionably one of the finest examples of this legendary model currently available. The BMW has been selectively shown since restoration, making a notable appearance at The Quail Motorsports Gathering in 2016, and now presents its next owner the unrepeatable opportunity to continue showing this significant model on the world's most prestigious concours fields.