BMW 501

The BMW 501 was a luxury car manufactured by BMW from 1952 to 1958. Introduced at the first Frankfurt Motor Show in 1951, the 501 was the first BMW model to be manufactured and sold after the Second World War, and the first BMW automobile actually built in Bavaria. The 501 and its derivatives, including the V8 powered BMW 502, were nicknamed “Baroque Angels” for their graceful if dated styling by the German public. The BMW 502 was the first postwar German car to be manufactured with a V8 engine.

While the 501 and 502 model numbers were discontinued in 1958, variations of the model, with the same platform and body, were continued until 1963.

Background

Awtowelo restarts "BMW" production

BMW's World War II-era satellite motor car factory in Eisenach fell in the post-war Soviet occupation zone in the newly created Communist GDR. Manufacturing of pre-war BMW models was restarted postwar in late 1945 by the Soviet created entity Sowjetische AG Maschinenbau Awtowelo. Despite not being made by BMW AG, these cars bore the BMW logo and were being sold as BMWs.[2]

BMW 502

transmission	4-speed manual

length	4730 mm

width	1780 mm

height	1530 mm

weight	1340 kg or more

wheelbase	2835 mm

related	BMW 502 BMW 3200 CS

designer	Peter Szymanowski

sp	uk

Before the construction of the first prototype of the 501, Böning had calculated the mass of the car as designed, and realized that the six-cylinder engine would be barely adequate to power the car. He proposed the development of a larger engine to power future versions to the management, who accepted his proposal. Böning began the design and development of a V8 engine similar in general design to the then-new 303 CID overhead valve Oldsmobile Rocket V8, with a single in-block camshaft operating overhead valves in wedge-shaped combustion chambers through pushrods.[9] The BMW OHV V8 engine differed from its Detroit contemporaries in the use of an aluminium alloy block[12] with cast-iron cylinder liners,[13] and in being half the size or smaller, initially with a 74 mm bore and a 75 mm stroke, giving a displacement of 2580 cc.[13][14] The development of the V8 was completed by Fritz Fiedler, who replaced Böning as BMW's chief engineer in 1952.[9]

The V8 engine was introduced at the 1954 Geneva Motor Show as the engine of the new BMW 502 saloon car.[10][12] Using the same chassis and basically the same body as the 501,[10] the 502 was more luxuriously appointed[10][12] and, with its light V8 engine producing 100 hp with a single two-barrel Solex carburettor,[10][14] was much faster.[10][12]

The 502 was acclaimed as Germany's first post-war V8 powered car,[15] but its high price of DM17,800 led to low sales; only 190 were sold in its first year of production.[10]

The 502 was distinguished from the 501 by additional chrome trim and more lavish interior fittings. Fog lights and individual front seats were also now included as standard features.[15] The 502 was mildly restyled in 1955 with a wraparound rear window.[12]

As well as the saloon version, BMW offered Baur built two-door cabriolet and coupé versions of the 502 in 1954 and 1955.[16] 501s and 502s were also converted into ambulances and hearses.[14]

BMW 2.6 and 2.6 Luxus

The 501 and 502 model designations were discontinued in 1958, when the 501 V8 was renamed the BMW 2.6 and the 502 was renamed the 2.6 Luxus.[17][18][19] The cars were continued under these model designations until 1961 with only two notable changes: power steering became an option in 1959, while front disc brakes were added in 1960.[17]

BMW 2600 and 2600L

In 1961, the model designations were changed again, to 2600 and 2600L. The engine in the 2600L was tuned to give 110 hp. Production ended in 1963.[17]

layout
aka	BMW 2.6 BMW 2600 Barockengel‡R1R‡
manufacturer	Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW)
production	October 1952–1962
predecessor	BMW 326
successor	BMW 2500 / 2800 ‘New Six’
class	Luxury car
body style	4-door sedan/saloon 2-door cabriolet 2-door coupé
engine	1971 cc M337/1 I6 (501) 1971 cc M337/2 I6 (501A/501B) 2077 cc M337/3 I6 (501/3) 2580 cc M502/1 V8 (501 V8/2.6)

Background

Awtowelo restarts "BMW" production

Three approaches to car manufacture

Donath

Böning

Grewenig

Donath

Böning

Grewenig

Design and engineering

Reception and production

Development of the BMW 501

BMW 502

BMW 2.6 and 2.6 Luxus

BMW 2600 and 2600L

BMW 3.2 and 3.2 Super

BMW 3200L and 3200S

Other developments

BMW 503 and 507

BMW 505 prototype

BMW 3200 CS

Production figures

Police vehicles

Legacy

References