18000 unforgettable kilometers with my BMW 507
03/21/2012
On March 12, 1965, driving from Otelfingen in the direction of Wettingen, I suddenly spotted a BMW 507 on the right-hand side of the road in a long, sloping S-curve. It had obviously left the road shortly before and had unfortunately hit a kerb. In any case, the driver standing next to the car couldn't think of driving on.
After a brief conversation, I realized that the owner was very upset about his driving mistake and so disappointed with himself that "he would prefer to get rid of the car immediately". His suggested price was 3500 francs, which sounded decent to me as a 29-year-old young father, but also significant. Just an hour later, however, the 507, which had been towed away in the meantime, was in a nearby repair shop. When I said goodbye, the salesman briefly informed me that the car had been purchased by the former Persian Prime Minister Mossadegh in 1957.
On May 12, 1965, the first journey was already imminent. In the meantime, the Motag company in Zurich and a coachbuilder specializing in aluminium had done a great job at a cost of just under 5,000 francs. The white beauty with brick-red leather interior, white hardtop and black soft top subsequently accompanied me to the 12-hour race in Reims and three times to the Monte Carlo GP without any problems. Even back then, the uniqueness of the 507 seemed to have been clearly recognized, as I could park in front of the Casino or the Hôtel de Paris whenever I wanted.
On September 23, 1967, after 18,000 unforgettable kilometers, I delivered the car to its new owner in Geneva with a smile and a tear in my eye. 15,500 francs seemed such a proud price to me that I treated myself to a return trip by plane.
It should be noted that today, some 45 years later, well-preserved BMW 507s have sometimes exceeded the million mark in terms of value; current market prices for the BMW 507 can be found here.
