Description
A luxury saloon ahead of its time, with very low mileage and virtually impossible to find in this condition!
In the 1950s BMW designed and built the first German saloon equipped with a lightweight alloy V8 engine!
Presented by Bayerische Motoren Werke at the 1954 Geneva Motor Show, the 502, an elegant and very comfortable luxury car with rounded and voluptuous lines, was quickly nicknamed 'the Baroque Angel'.
Our 1956 model is fitted with a 3. 2‑litre V8 engine, already capable of delivering 120 horsepower for its era (over 160 km/ h), designed to be smooth, reliable and quiet in operation… with a unique sound, thus abandoning the principle of long‑stroke engines. It is paired with a four‑speed manual gearbox and a reverse gear!
Externally, the 502 V8 is particularly recognisable by its fog lamps low on the front wings and by the chrome strip positioned beneath the line of the glass.
It is a luxury saloon with a host of features, and BMW quality that extends to the details: large‑visibility rear window, multi‑position front seat backs, grab handles, high‑quality upholstery, easy ingress/ egress through all four doors, switching between high/ low beam at the foot of the steering wheel or at the centre, a generously sized luggage compartment, plush seats, a lacquered wood dashboard equipped with beautiful round instruments, etc…
Our black-coloured vehicle is in exceptional condition: it was sold and registered in 1956 and underwent a complete, 100% original restoration starting in 2006, when its current owner bought it from a private museum, which had kept it since 1985. Only the interior, in perfect condition as our photos show, was kept without a full restoration. It is, of course, MATCHING NUMBERS.
The current owner, a passionate collector, a discerning and knowledgeable connoisseur of the model, has kept an extremely thorough and meticulous record of the vehicle since purchase. No intervention is required and, moreover, there is no trace of corrosion!
As noted, many restoration works were carried out by professionals mainly from 2006 to 2008 and since, with invoices available and original parts bought in Germany! It has covered just over 4, 000 km since, despite regular starts and runs! Exceptional…
For the restoration work carried out, we would notably mention here: a completely rebuilt V8 engine, water pump, radiator cleaning, hoses, fully stainless steel exhaust system to the manifolds, electronic ignition (perfectly invisible with all components kept in place), full braking system with power brake, fresh paint in the original shade by a professional (full file and film available), chrome trim renewed throughout, windscreen, headlining and a WEBASTO sunroof (very rare), complete trunk linings, tyres, … And even a brand-new original radio (€1, 700)…
All invoices, including original parts from Germany, are available for the prospective buyer!
The latest MOT (not mandatory) is clear.
To date, the odometer reads: 68, 161 km!
In total, 2, 500 BMW 502s were produced at the time: today only a small handful remain in the world!
As you’ve gathered, this 'Baroque Angel' with its powerful V8 is exceptional for its presence, luxurious comfort with four spacious seats, its temperament, its exceptional condition and its symbolism for the BMW marque! It is unrivalled in this condition and presents rare interest…
Undoubtedly an investment for the years to come.
We invite interested parties to discover it by contacting VEITURA to arrange a viewing with the owner, and, of course, for further information!
See you very soon!
