BMW 501
| BMW 501 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) |
| Also called | BMW 2.6 BMW 2600 |
| Production | October 1952 - 1962 |
| Designer | Peter Schimanowski |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size luxury car |
| Body style | |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Related |
|
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,835 mm (111.6 in) |
| Length | 4,730 mm (186 in) |
| Width | 1,780 mm (70 in) |
| Height | 1,530 mm (60 in) |
| Kerb weight | 1,340 kg (2,950 lb) or more |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | BMW 326 |
| Successor | BMW 2500 / 2800 ‘New Six’ |
| BMW 502 | |
|---|---|
1959 BMW 502
|
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) |
| Also called |
|
| Production | October 1954 - 1964 |
| Designer | Peter Schimanowski |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size luxury car |
| Body style | |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Related |
|
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,835 mm (111.6 in) |
| Length | 4,730 mm (186 in) |
| Width | 1,780 mm (70 in) |
| Height | 1,530 mm (60 in) |
| Kerb weight | 1,440 kg (3,170 lb) or more |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | BMW 335 |
| Successor | BMW 2500 / 2800 ‘New Six’ |
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 motor car to be manufactured and sold by BMW after the Second World War. The 501 and its derivatives, including the V8 powered BMW 502, were nicknamed “Baroque Angels” 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.
Production at BMW's motor car factory in Eisenach restarted in late 1945 with pre-war BMW models. However, Eisenach was in the Soviet occupation zone, and the cars were not being manufactured by BMW AG, but by the Soviet manufacturing entity Autovelo. Despite not being made by BMW, these cars bore the BMW logo and were being sold as BMWs.
Meanwhile, BMW AG restarted manufacture on a much smaller scale, starting with pots and pans, and eventually moving up to household hardware and bicycles. Eventually, with permission from the U.S. authorities and funding from the banks under which BMW had been put into receivership, they began manufacturing motorcycles in 1948.
To end Autovelo's continued trademark infringement, the Eisenach branch of BMW was dissolved effective 28 September 1949 and was legally severed as at 11 October. Without any legal arguments to continue using BMW's name and logo, Autovelo changed the name to EMW (Eisenacher Motoren Werke) and changed the blue colour in the logo to red.
Kurt Donath, technical director of BMW and general manager of the Milbertshofen factory, was soliciting manufacturers, including Ford and Simca, to produce their vehicles under licence. In particular, Donath was looking to produce old products under licence, so that he could buy tooling along with the licence.
While Donath was trying to find a car to build under licence, chief engineer Alfred Böning developed a prototype for a small economy car powered by a motorcycle engine. Called the BMW 331, the prototype used a 600 cc motorcycle engine, a four-speed gearbox, and a live rear axle. The body was designed by Peter Schimanowski and resembled a BMW 327 in miniature.
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Wikipedia