By most quantifiable measures, the BMW 503 was a failure. The same could be said for all of the '50-series' cars, which sold in lower numbers than B hoped and weren't profitable. But just take a look at this car and try to call it a failure.
There's the elegant profile, emphasised on 'our' example by its two-tone paintwork, with that chrome side strip kicking up at the back to add the lightest touch of flair. Or the luxurious door cards, with their opening drawers much more akin to a piece of high-end furniture than anything normally found inside a road vehicle. The glovebox, meanwhile, has an aluminium lid that's heavier and better built than most cars' entire dashboards.
No, this can't be a failure; as a pure piece of craftsmanship and design, the 503 is truly uncompromising in its pursuit of perfection. Focus on the owner's experience, rather than that of BMW's shareholders, and it's a triumph. An unprofitable product usually means a good deal for the consumer, after all. The 503 was certainly the former despite its price: the cabriolet was Germany's most expensive car when new. Yet very few took BMW up on that offer. It was first available in the UK in left-hand drive via sole concessionaire AFN, to little success, and then as a special order in righthand drive. This particular example was commissioned by a wealthy East Anglian doctor, Dr Bee (hence the numberplate), and was one of two 503s displayed at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1957 as BMW tried, largely in vain, to drum up more British interest.
Following the general theme of the 503, the re-engineering to right-hand drive was uncompromising. The aluminium dashboard, designed to strengthen the car laterally, was entirely re-cast for what would turn out to be just five right-hand-drive examples, three of which were cabriolets such as this.
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RAY HILLIER
Double-chevron oddity proves a break from the norm for this Crewe specialist
SHORT BACK & GLIDES
Eccentric enthusiast Captain RG McLeod's series of Manx-tailed Bentley Specials reached its zenith with this unique S2 Continental.
People's choice
The diminutive but multi-million-selling Fiat 850 packed a remarkable diversity of form and function into its compact footprint
PLASTIC BREAKS FROM THE NORM
Glassfibre revolutionised niche car-body production, but just occasionally strayed into the mainstream.
A SENSIBLE SUPERCAR
The cleverly conceived four-seater Elite secured Lotus a place at the big players' table, but has it been unfairly maligned since then?
"I had a habit of grabbing second place from the jaws of victory"
From dreams of yachting glory to the Le Mans podium, via a stint at the top of the motorsport tree, Howden Ganley had quite the career
Still going strong
Herbert Engineering staked its reputation on the five-year warranty that came with its cars. A century on, this Two Litre hasn't made a claim
One for the kids
General Motors was aiming squarely at the youth market with the launch of the Pontiac GTO 60 years ago, and its runaway success popularised the muscle-car movement
A NEW BREED OF HERO
Launched at the turn of the millennium, the GT3 badge has already earned a place alongside RS, CS and turbo in Porsche lore.
Brits with SIX appeal
The straight-six engine is synonymous with a decades-long legacy of great British sports cars. Six variations on the sextet theme convene for comparison
