Old School V8: 1961 BMW 502

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This handsome 1961 BMW 502 is said to be a part of a larger collection that the craigslist seller is unloading, and it appears to be an unrestored example that is largely complete. These were imposing executive saloons when new, featuring V8 power and suicide doors. Find this tired but dry example here on craigslist for $15,200 near Las Vegas. 

Thanks to Barn Finds reader Roger for spotting this rare pre-2002 BMW. What’s always interesting to me about the 502 is that it was a competitor to Mercedes’ 220-series sedans and coupe, yet the 502 is far more obscure by comparison. The V8 installed in the later model made it a strong performer for the era, capable of achieving a top speed of nearly 100 m.p.h.

Styling could be considered extravagant, what with suicide doors and a fair amount of chrome. Despite their relative rarity, largely due to being quite expensive when new, they aren’t tremendously valuable and the following for them is weak compared to later models like the 2002 and 3-Series models.

The interiors were richly appointed, even though cloth was not uncommon to see. Details like the grab handles, chrome fixtures, and heavy carpeting throughout and bucket seats up front offered passengers a comfortable, spacious cabin to recline in while the 502’s V8 cruised effortlessly at highway speeds. Restoring one of these today really isn’t going to net the next owner a big return, but they will also likely have the only one on the block.

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Comments

  1. canadainmarkseh

    I seriously hope the other half of that grille is in the trunk other wise your going to need someone with a CNC mill to help you replicate that pc. Or 3D print one and have it chromed. There seems to be no V8 engine any more as the seller states it Had a V8 engine. Good luck finding that too. I think if your going to restore it a V12 more modern engine might be the way to go, but that might just be a labour of love IMHO.

    Like 2
    • RayT

      The engine appears to be in place if the photos are current. And there’s a shot that show it in place in the ad.

      The grille, like a lot of more “common” parts, could be a problem. If anything, you’d probably find sources in Germany and nowhere else. Lots of work ahead here!

      I wasn’t too interested in these until I saw one in person and had a brief drive. Nothing spectacular, but certainly a decent upper-class 50s car. And I love the styling, which comes from the Schuco School of Design.

      Wish I had the necessities to take this on, although I’d try to get the price down by 30% or so at least in view of the restoration costs.

      Like 2
  2. Dennis M

    The 501 was referred to as the Baroque Angel and the 502 was similar enough in appearance that the was also applied to the 502.

    Like 0
  3. DavidLMM

    Great driving cars, but heavy. The Olds Rocket 88-based V-8 is not exotic, and there are parts sources in Germany. A $100K+ car when done, and still fairly rare.

    Like 2
    • John

      According to Wikipedia, the engine was “similar in design” to Olds and Cadillac engines, but all-aluminum. “ Rocket 88- based” is a stretch, methinks.

      Like 1
  4. Bill Wilkman

    Hard to believe BMW was still producing a ’40s era car in 1961.

    Like 4
  5. Jack Quantrill

    Wasn’t there one of these in the film “The Flim Flam Man “, with George Scott?

    Like 0
  6. RivaDella

    RivaDella likes this one! Seen at Lago Iseo Riva Days.

    Like 1
  7. John

    Hard to believe it’s an Olds-based engine. Do you have backup for that?

    Like 2
  8. stillrunners

    wow….neat survivor there…..

    Like 1
  9. MG-bakka

    It was the first new developed German V8 engine after ww2!
    Not related to any American V8!

    https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_501/502

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_501

    Like 2
  10. bog

    I’d love to own this, and restore it to Bavarian Police car standards. I was stationed there from mid-67 through Fall ’69, and these babies were the equivalent of both State and County police cars. And they were “chase” cars too, so perhaps being in Bavaria those departments got special “souped-up” 502s, as they sure as heck could go faster than the “near” 100 mph mentioned in the write up, and in BMWs own specs of 96 mph (plus/minus). I never got the opportunity to talk with one of the Polizei and learn from them what was different. Perhaps one of your readers has a contact that knows…

    Like 0
  11. TomE

    A 503 cabriolet was featured in The Last Run, a George C. Scott film. 503 was based on 502 mechanical underpinnings and produced as grand touring coupe and cabriolet models. Not inexpensive to restore, but desired among collectors.

    The BMW all-aluminum V8 was produced in 2.6 litre and 3.2 litre capacity, the latter used in 503, 507 and 3200CS models as well as 502. GM copied it for their all-aluminum V8 in the early ’60s (later used by Rover), not the other way round.

    Like 0

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