Overview
Produced: 1955-1960, 412 produced.
Types: Coupe,2 doors,4 seats
Cabriolet,2 doors,4 seats

The BMW 503 was designed by Count Albrecht von Goertz, the same man who designed the BMW 507.

BMW ads referred to the 503 as " an elegant luxury travel sports car from the stable of the large BMW eight-cylinder cars."  The 'large eight-cylinder cars' was a reference to the Baroque Angels, BMW's mainstay at the time.

BMW introduced the 503 at the Geneva Auto Show in 1955.  Like the 502 which preceded it, the 503 featured a 3.2 litre V-8, the most modern engine of its day and Germany's first eight since the war.  The engine produced 140 bhp @ 4500 rpm, and it powered the 503 to a top speed of 118 mph. 

Source: Motorbase
Engines
CapacityConfigModelBore/StrokeCR
3168ccV8 OHVBMW V8 (503,507,3200)82mm x 75mm
Performance
Top Speed0-60SQMMPGEngine PwrComment
118 mph140 bhp 4500
Auction Sales History
Lot
Num
Description Auctioneer Date Hammer Price Hammer Price
(inc premium)
231 BMW 503 3.2-Litre Coupé Bonhams 2 Feb 2012 Not sold
155 BMW 503 Coupe Bonhams 1 Oct 2011 Not sold
152 BMW 503 Coupe Bonhams 1 Oct 2011 €27000.00 €31050.00
144 BMW 503 3.2-Litre Coupé Bonhams 30 Apr 2010 Not sold
084 1957 BMW 503 CONVERTIBLE H&H Sales Limited 21 Nov 2007 Not sold
010 BMW 320 CS Coupe Bertone (1964) Poulain LeFur 16 Dec 2002 £11000.00 -
Magazine Articles
Title Pages Options
Article Looks familiar?
72 View
Publication Classic Cars September 2010
Looks familiar? - Challenging looks for an unabashed luxury GT? Sounds like a modern BMW - but they've been there before, you know.
Article Graf Goertz'a grand designs
138 View
Publication Classic & Sports Car September 2011
Graf Goertz'a grand designs - BMW's opulent, unprofitable 503s pushed the fire to the brink of bankruptcy, says Graeme Hurst though you can clearly feel the beginnings of the successful direction in which it was heading.
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