1956 BMW 502 Baur Two-Door Cabriolet
- Engine
- 3.2L V8 (upgraded from original 2.6L V8), with power-assisted front disc brakes
- Colour
- Topaz Blue metallic
A 1956 BMW 502 Baur two-door cabriolet, one of only 57 such coachbuilt examples and reportedly one of two in the United States. Originally delivered to the Munich offices of Siemens & Halske for executive use, the car later made its way to Canada, where it remained dormant from 1973 until 2010. Following acquisition in 2011, it underwent a comprehensive two-year restoration in Europe covering mechanical, electrical, bodywork, and interior elements, emerging in Topaz Blue metallic with a beige leather interior and a BMW Group Classic Certificate of Authenticity.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$341,000
- —Auction saleEstimate US$300,000 – US$350,000
- 1956-06-02 →Factory deliverySiemens & Halske AGpartial documentation
Taken delivery from the factory for executive purposes at the Munich premises. No records document how the car subsequently moved to Canada.
- → 1973Acquisition unknownDr. Franklin Lampartial documentation
Ottawa-based dentist; final Canadian registration recorded in 1973, after which the car sat dormant for decades.
- 2010 → 2011-06-06Private saleMichael Higginspartial documentation
Tow truck driver who purchased the long-idle vehicle with restoration ambitions, then decided the scope of work was beyond his means and sold it.
- 2011-06-06 →Private saleCurrent ownersfull documentation
Commissioned a full restoration in Europe, split between a mechanical specialist near Munich and a bodywork firm in Pilsen; took delivery of the finished car in May 2013 with a BMW Group Classic Certificate of Authenticity.
Competition
- 2013-09-01BMW Vintage & Classic Car Club of AmericaBMW Vintage & Classic Car Club of America 1,000-Mile Tour, Northern Germany
A long-distance touring event held in northern Germany, one of several BMW club events the car participated in after its restoration.
- —BMW Vintage & Classic Car Club of AmericaBMW Vintage & Classic Car Club of America Colorado Rockies Road Rally
Approximately 1,000-mile rally routed through the Colorado Rocky Mountains; exact date not specified.
- —Concours d'Elegance appearances (multiple)Best in Class and Peoples' Choice awards
The car entered several concours events post-restoration, earning class honors and a popular-vote award; specific events and dates not identified in the prose.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2011RestorationBrummer Repair; Matejcek
Complete ground-up restoration undertaken in Europe covering all mechanical and electrical systems by Erwin Brummer of Brummer Repair, and full bodywork, convertible top, upholstery, carpeting, and interior trim by the Matejcek firm. Finished in Topaz Blue metallic (BMW code 364) with beige leather interior, verified against BMW Group Classic Archives colour guidance.
Two-year project completed May 2013; result certified by BMW Group Classic Certificate of Authenticity. Owners made multiple site visits during the process.
- —Modification
Original 2.6-litre V-8 engine replaced with a more powerful 3.2-litre V-8 unit, and front drum brakes exchanged for power-assisted disc brakes; both changes bring the car to specifications of later 502 Cabriolet production models.
Original engine (number 11849) retained unrestored and available to a future owner on request.
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