BMW, the iconic luxury automotive brand, is nothing short of aspirational. It is the paragon of automobile luxury and pristine craftsmanship.
The brand was founded in the Kingdom of Bavaria and started out by building aircraft parts. Its very first product was a straight-six aircraft engine called BMW IIIa for a fighter aircraft of the Luftstreitkräfte. After the First World War, BMW persevered, continuing to make agricultural equipment, motorcycle engines, and brakes.
In 1928, BMW acquired Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach, which marked BMW's beginnings as a luxury automobile brand. The very first car sold as a BMW was a rebranded Eisenach called the BMW 3/15. A delightful surprise, BMW fit right into the luxury automobile industry and went on to carve out a niche of its own finding resounding success within the first decade of venturing into the business.
BMW has added countless jewels to its crowns ever since and has built an impressive legacy. Read on to learn about the most expensive BMWs of all time.
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John Surtees' 1957 BMW 507 Touring Sports Car: $5,000,000
A 1957 BMW 507 Roadster is a stately beauty in its own right. However, coming from British Grand Prix motorcycle maestro John Surtees' garage, this particular set of wheels is extra special.
Legend has it that Surtees’ got this Roadmaster as a gift from MV Augusta to celebrate his victory at the 1956 Motorcycle World Championship. Apparently, he saw the car at an auction and was immediately taken by it. The handsome car is fitted with a 3.2-litre V8 that outputs a power of 150 HP. It was certainly a swift ride for its time, and Surtees used this car extensively throughout his career to drive to the Grand Prix races and to-and-fro between England and Italy. He greatly treasured the Roadmaster till his last day.
The Surtees family put the car up for auction in July 2018 through Bonhams, and it fetched nearly five million dollars, making it one of the most expensive BMWs ever sold.
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1956 BMW 507: $4,000,000
A sleek aluminium-bodied ride, this 1956 BMW 507 was an exclusive two-seater car designed to allure the affluent American. It was the arch-rival of Ferrari’s California T, as both models were marketed as effortlessly seductive rides, elegant yet laid back.
With the massive gulf between the ultra-expensive Mercedes 300SL and the commercial cars of MG and Triumph, the 507 was going to be the perfect in-between – elevated, sophisticated, but just about attainable. The beautifully sculpted car was handcrafted to the minutest of details, making it a truly bespoke vehicle.
However, the 507 wasn’t very well received at the time. So, production halted at just 251 units, making it one of BMW’s rarest series. Notwithstanding its unpopularity, Elvis Presley fell in love with this regal white car and bought one for himself.
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1991 BMW Nazca M12: $1,500,000
The Nazca M12 was certainly one of BMW’s most memorable cars – with its silvery sheen glamour, it outright stole the spotlight at the Geneva Motor Show in 1991.
Its smooth exterior, inspired by F1 cars, was made with a sole piece of moulded carbon fibre. A glass cover showcased the 5-litre V12 engine. The most striking feature of the car, however, was its glass roof formed of gullwing windows, making the Nazca M12 look like an auto straight out of a sci-fi film when they are opened. Surprisingly, only three Nazca M12s were produced.
The snazzy V12 engine powers the car with 345 HP, enabling it to sprint to 311 kilometres per hour.
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1980 BMW M1 Procar: $913,000
As the name may subtly hint, the M1 Procar is one of BMW’s supercars and has built a prolific racing legacy.
The magnificent model birthed a fascinating racing series of its own, called the “BMW Procar Series,” in which the top five Formula 1 drivers would race against newbies and private drivers in identical BMW M1s.
The Procar has other accomplishments under its belt – it took part in the 1981 IMSA GTO Championship with the legendary Al Unser Jr. behind its wheel; it achieved eight podium finishes in the 1981-82 IMSA GTO Championship seasons; and it participated in the German Automobile Racing Championship.
The M1 Procar’s chassis flaunts a ritzy white, red, and blue colour palette. Equipped with an in-line six-cylinder petrol engine, the car produces a staggering power of 1,000 HP, enabling it to go as fast as 320 kilometres per hour.
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BMW i8 Concours d'Elegance Edition: $825,000
The BMW i8 Concours d'Elegance Edition is a bespoke version of the BMW i8, an exalted sports car from the brand.
The d'Elegance Edition was created for the sole purpose of being auctioned during the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to celebrate the launch of the i8 in the United States in 2014.
This version of the i8 is bedazzled in “frozen grey” metallic paint, and the cushy interiors are woven with luxurious Dalbergia Brown leather upholstery, stitched in iBlue coloured thread. Several US-specific characteristics are also included, such as lower headlights, a digital display setup with an LCD touchscreen, and a charging station.
Additionally, the words “Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Edition” were inscribed on the door sills, and custom Louis Vuitton luggage was also thrown in as a complimentary gift.
The BMW i8 Concours d'Elegance Edition was sold for an eye-watering price of $825,000 at the auction.
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1936 Frazer Nash-BMW 328 Roadster: $700,000
The Frazer Nash-BMW 328 Roadster was created at a time when the brand was gaining notoriety in the sports scene. This car embodied the engineering inventiveness and the avant-garde aesthetic BMW would soon be renowned for.
Unlike most sports cars of the time that bore a heavy steel chassis, the 328 was a lightweight car with a tapered rear end and tubular cross members. Additionally, the 328 was fitted with two brown leather bonnet straps and its characteristic double-kidney grille.
The car was subtly launched during the Eifel Trophy Race on the Nürburgring. Driven by Ernst Henne, the 328 emerged victorious two minutes and 27 seconds ahead of the competitors. Thus, the 328 is a legendary car in BMW’s sporting history.
The name “Frazer Nash” comes from a British manufacturer of the same name who imported 42 328s into the country. Given the significance of this collaboration, the imported 328s were adorned with Frazer Nash-BMW badges. These British-imported 328 Roadsters are currently valued at $700,000.
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BMW M5 30 Jahre:$700,000
The BMW M5 30 Jahre was created to mark the 30-year milestone of the BMW M5. Only 300 units were made, out of which 30 were exported to the United Kingdom, and only one made it to the United States – the sole M5 in America garnered a hefty net worth of $700,000.
This special edition M5 boasts a natty frozen grey metallic exterior, sharply accentuating the car’s muscular chassis. It is equipped with a 4.4-litre V8 engine that produces 600 HP, 40 HP more than the original M5 model. A lightning-fast sedan for its time, the M5 30 Jahre can go from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds. At the time of its release, this car was the most powerful sedan released by BMW.
The interior is furnished in premium Black Alcantara and Full Merino leather and is enveloped in a high-tech surround-sound system comprising 16 speakers.
BMW is undoubtedly one of the greats in the luxury automobile niche. The brand’s net worth is not just about its stellar craftsmanship. It's about its refined sensibility, history, and illustrious legacy. Elegance and perfection personified, a BMW in your garage is the ultimate dream – it’s time to make it your reality.
