![SURTEES SECRET BMW](https://cdn.magzter.com/1343919541/1678265329/articles/tHukqsLyk1679903543717/SURTEES-SECRET-BMW.jpg)
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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Denne historien er fra April 2023-utgaven av Classic & Sports Car.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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![A Breath of Fresh Air- Alfa Romeo's exotic, V8-powered Montreal was like nothing the marque had made before, but can it compare with a Porsche masterpiece, the 911S 2.4?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1165/1754853/aIoYsaONm1721890101059/crp_automotive-rivalry-engines-classic-cars-Alfa-Romeo-Porsche-Alfa-Montreal-American-legislature-cars-motors-emissions-legislation-power-horses-rear-engined-performance-cars.jpg)
A Breath of Fresh Air- Alfa Romeo's exotic, V8-powered Montreal was like nothing the marque had made before, but can it compare with a Porsche masterpiece, the 911S 2.4?
The stereotype of the ItaloGermanic automotive rivalry is that the Latin car will be brilliant to drive, but poorly built and ergonomically flawed, while the Teutonic will be the opposite. Yet these 2+2 sports coupés both ran against orthodoxy. In the Montreal, Alfa Romeo created an outlandish-looking two-door more comfortable, more powerful and more refined than anything it had produced for decades. Meanwhile, Porsche continued to refine its back-to-front, austere and increasingly aged 911. Neither took a traditional development path, but both created thrilling and individual cars that have echoed through the decades.
![Daring to be diminutive](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1165/1754853/AmIVckPLo1721899537964/DARING-TO-BE-DIMINUTIVE.jpg)
Daring to be diminutive
AMC's Gremlin and Pacer, and Ford's much-derided Pinto, led America's response to the threat of imported European compacts
![THE LONG WAY ROUND](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1165/1754853/SWtFw9mRl1721899252219/THE-LONG-WAY-ROUND.jpg)
THE LONG WAY ROUND
There is a great tradition of overland trips by Land-Rover, but the tale of this 70s Aussie epic and the car itself was discovered by chance
![Handsome cab](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1165/1754853/-dpmqCaVI1721898491829/HANDSOME-CAB.jpg)
Handsome cab
The Phantom V limousine marked the beginning of the end for coachbuilder James Young, but this Rolls-Royce represents the craft at its very best
![DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1165/1754853/Vomj9H0fu1721897856858/DOING-IT-FOR-THEMSELVES.jpg)
DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES
Racing for their own F1 teams brought some drivers success and an enduring legacy. For others, it turned into a nightmare
![20 30 LITRES CYLINDERS, 400BHP......AND MORE THAN A CENTURY OLD](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1165/1754853/zdC2cLSyD1721897111472/20-30-LITRES-CYLINDERS-400BHPAND-MORE-THAN-A-CENTURY-OLD.jpg)
20 30 LITRES CYLINDERS, 400BHP......AND MORE THAN A CENTURY OLD
Thunderous torque, flame-spitting stub-exhausts, white-knuckle thrills - and hopefully no spills - aboard a trio of Edwardian racing titans
![ICON.](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1165/1754853/FMz6-uHGE1721891820094/ICON.jpg)
ICON.
The three top-selling vehicles in the USA in 2023 were pick-ups, topped by the Ford F-Series. This is the truck that started it all
![Blurred Lines](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1165/1754853/IbKGAt41l1721891401248/BLURRED-LINES.jpg)
Blurred Lines
lan 'Del' Lines blended the V8 burble of Triumph's open GT with real practicality in his Stag V8 saloons and estates
![Home of the brave](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1165/1754853/o8ilT99H91721890990032/HOME-OF-THE-BRAVE.jpg)
Home of the brave
The innovative Silverstone proved a hit with keen amateur drivers. To mark its 75th, Healey's club racer returns to the circuit for which it is named
![PLAYING ALL THE ANGLES](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1165/1754853/IIq13QaH71721890519994/PLAYING-ALL-THE-ANGLES.jpg)
PLAYING ALL THE ANGLES
Alfa Romeo's wild RZ eschewed the jellymould styling of the period to offer a striking, wedge-shaped take on open-topped performance motoring