Background
BMW 502 Coupé was one of the most exclusive BMW models of the 1950s and an extremely limited-production special model in the company’s post-war range. The car was based on the BMW 502 luxury saloon but received a hand-built two-door coupé body that gave the large “Baroque Angel” a considerably more elegant and individual appearance. It combined BMW’s advanced V8 engineering with the traditional craftsmanship of the German coachbuilding industry and ranked among the most exclusive automobiles built in post-war Germany.
Based on the BMW 502
The BMW 502 had entered production in 1954 as a more luxurious development of the BMW 501 and introduced an entirely new V8 engine to the BMW range. The saloon’s strong separate chassis frame also made it suitable as a basis for limited-production special bodies. The BMW 502 Coupé retained the basic chassis and drivetrain of the saloon, but the four-door body was replaced by an elegant two-door coupé. The result was a car whose engineering remained closely related to the BMW 502 but whose character was considerably more exclusive.
Bodywork by Baur
BMW commissioned Baur in Stuttgart to build the coupé bodies. Baur had extensive experience in the construction of bespoke coupés and convertibles, and in 1955 it produced only 24 BMW 502 Coupés. The cars were built largely by hand to individual orders and were sold through BMW’s official dealer network. This was therefore not an independently developed coachbuilder special, but a very limited-production luxury coupé officially offered as part of BMW’s model range.
Two-door luxury coupé
Compared with the four-door BMW 502 saloon, the two-door body gave the car an entirely different character. Longer doors, the closed coupé roof and cleaner side profile made the proportions appear more elegant and emphasised the car’s nature as an exclusive touring coupé. At the same time, the rounded forms and characteristic styling of the BMW 501 and 502 “Baroque Angel” family remained clearly recognisable. The result was a rare combination of the dignity of a large executive car and the exclusivity of a two-door coupé.
BMW’s first V8 generation
All 24 BMW 502 Coupés were equipped with the 2,580 cm³ V8 engine. The engine block and cylinder heads were made from light alloy, making the power unit an important technological milestone for BMW. The BMW 502 was the company’s first series-production model with a V8 engine, and its all-alloy construction was exceptionally advanced for its time. The engine produced 100 hp at 4,800 rpm and provided the large luxury car with considerably better performance than the earlier six-cylinder BMW 501.
160 km/h
The 100 hp V8 allowed the BMW 502 Coupé to reach a top speed of 160 km/h. Power was transmitted to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox. Although this figure may not appear exceptional by modern standards, in 1955 it represented very strong performance for a large, hand-built luxury automobile. The smooth character of the V8 suited the coupé particularly well, making it more of a fast and comfortable touring car than a pure sports car.
Craftsmanship and luxury
The BMW 502 Coupé was produced largely by hand, and this was reflected in both its price and its exclusivity. The interior used the high-quality materials and careful finishing expected of BMW’s luxury models of the period. The very small production run allowed greater attention to be given to individual cars than would have been possible in normal mass production, while the order-based manufacturing process also gave each example a degree of individuality.
A very expensive BMW
When new, the BMW 502 Coupé cost 21,800 Deutsche Mark. By comparison, the standard 100 hp BMW 502 saloon cost 17,800 Deutsche Mark. The coupé was therefore an exceptionally expensive and exclusive automobile aimed at only the wealthiest buyers. Its high price, hand-built body and production run of just 24 cars explain why BMW itself regards these cars as some of the most exclusive automobiles of its post-war era.
Connection with the BMW 502 Convertible
In addition to the coupé, Baur also produced convertible versions based on the BMW 502. While 24 Coupés were built in 1955, a total of 57 BMW 502 Convertibles were produced in 1955 and 1956. Both body styles were hand-built to order and sold through BMW’s dealer network. These rare special-bodied cars illustrate how varied the BMW 502 family could be, despite the great majority of cars being built as four-door saloons.
The road to the BMW 503
The BMW 502 Coupé remained in production for only a few months. At the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW presented the entirely new BMW 503 Coupé and Convertible, which used a more powerful 3.2-litre V8 engine and a much more modern body designed by Albrecht von Goertz. The BMW 503 entered production in 1956 and took over the role of BMW’s exclusive luxury coupé. The 502 Coupé can therefore also be regarded as one of the final and most luxurious developments of the “Baroque Angel” generation before BMW entered a new design era.
Historical significance
The historical importance of the BMW 502 Coupé lies above all in its exceptional rarity and handcrafted nature. It was not a conventional mass-production model but a highly exclusive luxury car officially offered through BMW’s dealer network in extremely limited numbers. With only 24 examples produced, the BMW 502 Coupé is today one of the rarest post-war BMW coupés and represents an era when the engineering of a major manufacturer and the craftsmanship of an independent coachbuilder could still come together in an exceptionally exclusive production automobile.
Model in the collection
The model in my collection was produced by Detail Cars and represents a 1955 BMW 502 Coupé.
Technical data in brief
Production period: March–November 1955
Body style: two-door coupé
Coachbuilder: Baur, Stuttgart, Germany
Technical basis: BMW 502
Engine: V8
Displacement: 2,580 cm³
Engine construction: light-alloy block and cylinder heads
Power: 100 hp @ 4,800 rpm
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive
Top speed: 160 km/h
Price when new: 21,800 Deutsche Mark
Production: 24 cars
Special feature: extremely limited-production BMW 502 luxury coupé with a hand-built Baur body, sold through BMW’s official dealer network
Photo of the real car. Source: rmsothebys.com