Rare BMW 502 V8 sedan emerges from slumber and heads to auction

[Suarez™]

When we think of classic BMWs, one of the Neue Klasse models usually pops into our minds. Or perhaps an Isetta or a 507; two very different classics. But before the Neue Klasse models defined BMW for decades, the German automaker struggled to find its niche in the post-war years, experimenting with luxurious sedans that aimed squarely for Mercedes-Benz models.

And this weekend, Silverstone Auctions will offer a piece of that history; a 1957 BMW 502 3.2 V8 sedan in "barn find" condition that has been hiding in the U.K.

What were the 502 sedans about? The second all-new post-war BMW design, the 502 sought to correct the shortcomings of the 501 sedan which was powered by a six-cylinder engine that wasn't up to the task; the 501 was a commercial flop. Debuting at the 1954 Geneva motor show the 502 offered slightly revised exterior styling and a 3.2-liter V8 that the company hoped would allow it to compete directly with the Mercedes-Benz "Ponton" sedans of the time, which featured equally curvy exteriors. The 501 and 502 were nicknamed "Baroque Angels" for their slightly overstyled appearance.