1956 BMW 501 V8

The subject of a phenomenally comprehensive restoration in the 1990s, this gorgeous example of the BMW 501 is in staggeringly good condition, being as solid as it is beautifully engineered and lavishly appointed.

Believed to have undertaken something of a world tour in its life, the BMW was exported to England when it was new. It then returned to these shores more recently via owners in Saudi Arabia, Germany and France.

In amazingly original condition, it has stacks of paperwork to support its history; the restoration was believed to have been commissioned by Steve Barton. It is also thought to have been owned by Wolf Zeuner, the editor of the BMW Bulletin, who used the car until 2006.

The fit of the sleek, aerodynamic body panels is incredible, with tight, even shut-lines. The doors ‘clunk’ shut in true Germanic fashion; clichés only become clichés because they’re true, and the reputation German cars have for bank vault-like doors started with cars like this.

The whole body is incredibly solid and free from structural corrosion, serious rust, and other nasties. Sure, a decent machine polish is going to feature in its near future - especially on the panel beneath the boot and behind the rear bumper - but it’s free of significant dents, scuffs and other damage; there might be the odd light scratch and stonechip but it really is very good overall.

In fact, the only real problem we can see if a small area of bubbling on the offside front door. This would be an easy repair, made even easier by the car’s solid blue colour, which would facilitate the blending-in of a localized repair.

It’s brightwork is believed to be aluminium rather than chromed steel. In any case, it is faded and a touch dull but should respond well to some gentle polishing. The front bumper appears to have been chromed back in the 90s, so this will need stripping off and then sorting out properly. All appears complete and undamaged.

Even the rubber seals used between the body panels and between the body and the lights appear to have been replaced during the car’s restoration. They’re holding up well and the fact that they were replaced is indicative of the thoroughness of the work that was carried out.

The Art Deco-influenced interior is a delightful place to be, being as stylish as it is ergonomic. Featuring a period-correct radio and a huge, cream steering wheel, the interior is far lighter and more airy than most of its contemporaries.

We believe the grey/pale blue leather seats were painted when the car was restored in 1994. The work was done well, and they’re developing a lovely patina to them that suits the car’s faded glory rather nicely.

The woodwork is finished very differently to the super-lacquered veneer we are used to seeing in British luxury cars but it suits the interior design theme perfectly and is in wonderful condition. The headlining, carpets, and door cards are also in very good condition.

In fact, exquisite details abound, like the wonderful clock that is positioned above the rear-view mirror, and the ivory knobs, sliders, and switches. It’s no wonder the cars were christened ‘Baroque Angels’ in-period.

We’ve prodded and pulled and clicked everything we can find and it all appears to work. However, given how gorgeous it is inside we’d strongly recommend potential bidders pop along to see us here at The Market HQ in Abingdon to take a look for yourselves in order to fully appreciate it.

Oh, and the boot is truly enormous, which would make the BMW a fine long-distance touring car. And lifting the boot carpet reveals nicely painted metal.

The engine, which was rebuilt by BMW in 1994 as part of its restoration, starts fine but is a bit hesitant when it’s cold so it might need some further investigation. Once warmed up, there is a strong V8 noise from the exhaust pipe, but judging by the noise, we think the engine end of the exhaust has a small hole of some description.

As you can see from the attached invoices, almost every other mechanical part of the car was removed, stripped down, inspected and then repaired or replaced as necessary at the same time.

We’ve taken it for a short test drive and whilst all went well, we suspect that it might need some light fettling/recommissioning before any longer journeys are undertaken. With this in mind, we’d welcome potential bidders who would like to come and view the car to undertake their own assessment of its mechanical condition before placing a bid. (Just to reinforce this, we’ve found a small puddle of brake fluid on the floor overnight - under the bulkhead – and no foot-brakes left. In addition to this, there appears to be a slight coolant leak from one of the bolts on the head).

The underbonnet area is neat and clean and nicely detailed, there is no corrosion evident – the prior restoration really was that thorough. This extends to the fitted toolkit; while the contents don’t look to be original, it is a lovely touch and goes to the heart of the quality of the work that has been carried out and the care with which it has been used since.

The car comes with a number of expired MOT certificates and expired road tax discs, plus a thick sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the restoration work that was been done to it in the 1990s, along with a hand-written record in both German and English. There are a few newer invoices for various repairs since then, too.

There is also a period photo album containing a number of photographs of the BMW, presumably shortly after it had been restored and was in the process of being shown at various BMW events. It also featured in the November 1995 edition of BMW Car magazine.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained and restored to the very highest standard.

A previous concours winner, we think this ultra-rare right-hand-drive, V8-powered example will sell for between £18,000 and £26,000. This is a huge price range we know but there simply hasn’t been anything sold like it in recent times upon which to base our guide price more accurately. There are a few jobs needed to return this ‘Angel’ to its previous condition, but what a final item you will have. And, as we say, find another!

And this is a car that’s worth coming to see in person; it’s amazingly well engineered, beautifully built, and has stood up to the rigours of 21st century life with remarkable aplomb.

The car can be seen here at The Market HQ in Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.