Rare metal from Munich gathers on the 18th fairway
BMW blew out 100 candles this year, and the celebration of the automaker’s centenary extended to Monterey Car Week events as well. Fresh from showing the 2002 Hommage concept in Turbomeister livery at The Quail, BMW headed to the week’s final event set on the 18th fairway of the Pebble Beach golf course. While the 2002 Hommage concept had already been seen earlier in the year at Villa d’Este, the 100th anniversary was what it took to lure these rare sedans, coupes, cabrios, and roadsters out of the world’s top collections.
Here are a few that we probably won’t see for the next 100 years… at least not all at the same concours.
1957 BMW 503 Series I Bertone Cabriolet This 1957 BMW 503 Series I Bertone Cabriolet was an expensive car back in the day, but was not a commercial success, like the 507. Photo by Jay Ramey
This Bertone cabriolet is one of just 129 built, borne of BMW’s collaboration with the Italian carrozzeria to create some of the first new luxury cabrios of the post-war period. The cars themselves, like the 507 that debuted around this time, were aimed squarely at the U.S. market with the aim of cashing in on the convertible craze brewing at the time. Like many of BMW’s early attempts at creating exclusive luxury models, the business side of things fell flat. Examples of this model are most often seen at Europe’s top auctions.
1960 BMW 3200 Autenrieth Cabriolet ...