Looking Back At The BMW Roadster

[JoshCalkins]

2009 BMW Z4

The newest BMW roadster, the new Z4, is currently making its European debut at the Geneva Motor Show. While this car features all sorts of modern technology, its styling, and indeed the styling of every model in BMW's Z line, hearkens back to the 1950s, when the 507 set a decades-long precedent on what a BMW roadster should be like.

BMW 3/15 DA-3 Wartburg

The first roadster that BMW ever produced was the 3/15 DA-3, introduced in 1930. The 18 bhp DA-3 wasn't on the market very long, however, as the effects of the Great Depression essentially eliminated the demand for roadsters. Only about 150 were ever made.

BMW 315

Next up in BMW roadster history are the 315/1 and the 319/1, which were produced between 1934 and 1937. While these were considered to be roadsters, they weren't all that different from the 315 and 319 sedans that inspired them. They were built on the same chassis and used engines with the same displacement. The only differences were that the compression ratios on the engines were adjusted to provide more power and three Solex carburetors were added. Also, because the roadster body work weighed less than sedan body work, the roadsters were a bit lighter, but only by about 170 pounds.

1938 BMW 328

The 328, produced from 1936 to 1940, was the first true roadster produced by BMW. While other models had essentially be sedans with modified body work and slightly adjusted engines, the 328 was designed from the ground up to be a genuine sports car and racer. Two major design choices were made that helped the 328 attain its hallowed status: a hollow tube frame design, and a hemispherical engine head. The 328 won many races in its time, including the Mille Miglia (1938 as a class winner, and 1940 as the overall winner), but perhaps the most impressive racing victory occurred at Nurburgring.


In June of 1936, a prototype 328 being driven by Ernst Henne, a prominent motorcycle racer of the day, faced off a field of other racers driving a range of roadsters, in a 10 lap race. Henne finished first and had to wait a full two and a half minutes before the second place driver, in a turbo-charged Alfa Romeo, crossed the finish line. The 328 wouldn't be available for public sale until spring of the following year, but roadster enthusiasts began immediately placing orders for the vehicles after the win.


Production of the 328 was halted in 1940, as BMW's factories were allocated to wartime manufacturing. In all, only 464 328s were ever produced, including protoypes and designated racers.

BMW 507 Roadster

Due to sanctions imposed by the Allies after the close of WWII, German manufacturing, including BMW's efforts, were severely curtailed after the war. It wasn't until 1952 that BMW made another production vehicle, the six-cylinder 501 sedan that would eventually inspire the modern 7-Series. In 1954, BMW introduced the 502 sedan. The 502 shared the same body work and chassis as the 501, but was powered by a V8 engine. These sedans provided the basic platform for the 503 coupe and the 507 roadster.

1957 BMW 507 Roadster

Looking at the 507, you can easily see how the vehicle has influenced modern BMW roadsters. But while the 507 is a classic German auto, its origins begin in the United States. In the 1950s, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz models dominated the American import sports cars market. Max Hoffman, the biggest American import dealer of the day, wanted BMW to produce a roadster that could compete with these models. The 3.2-liter V8 507, which premiered in 1955 and went on sale in 1956, was the result.. The 507 could reach a top speed of 141 mph, depending on transmission type, and produced 150 bhp, but its main appeal was its style. Every body panel was made from hand-crafted aluminum. Because each piece was hand made, no two 507s are exactly the same.


While the 507 was an elegant and powerful vehicle, BMW's production capabilities of the time were nowhere near as advanced as they are today. The 507 was initially supposed to cost about $5,000 US, but manufacturing problems and delays eventually pushed the price to twice that. The high pricetag caused many drivers to stick with the Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz models that the 507 was supposed to compete against. Even the few that were sold did not make BMW any profit. The car was dropped from BMW's lineup in 1959 after bringing the company close to bankruptcy, with only 253 or 254 (records vary) ever being produced.

507 and a Z8 Side-by-Side

It would be 30 years before BMW produced another roadster. During that time, the company cemented its reputation as a maker of high quality vehicles and created the infrastructure that would allow the company to avoid the financial troubles associated with the 507's manufacture. On Friday, we'll look at the BMW roadster's rebirth as the Z Series.