A superb and rare photo of the magnificent BMW 3,168cc V8 engine of 1956. This engine was used for the BMW 502 and BMW 503 sportscars. The photograph shows magnificent detail of the engine!

 

Photographed is the BMW 503 engine version of 1956. The 3,168cc (195.8 ci) aluminum alloy V-8 engine with pushrod operated overhead valves, delivered a claimed power output of 140 bhp (103 kW) and acceleration from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 13 seconds along with a top speed slightly short of 120 mph (193 km/h). It had two Solex Zenith 32NDIX two-barrel carburetors. It rated 150 hp (111.9 kW) DIN, with 160 hp (119.4 kW) optional. It was mated to a four-speed manual transmission with various rear-end ratios, also optional.

 

We also have photos available of the longitudinal section of the original engine drawing.

 

The BMW 503 debuted during the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show, the I.A.A. Production got under way during the summer of the next year, and by 1959, when the 503 was withdrawn, 413 had been built including 139 cabriolets. The car was styled by the entrepreneurial auto-designer, Albrecht von Goertz based on preliminary drafts prepared by Kurt Bredschneider. It was originally intended to feature a flamboyant shape incorporating rounded mudguards which would have emphasized its kinship with the BMW 502 sedan, but regulations concerning matters such as light positioning rendered such a form impractical. In retrospect, the more square cornered look of the car as it emerged with fully integrated wings may have been more in tune with future styling trends than the original proposal. The 503 incorporated the 3168 cc light metal V8 engine from the 502 which in this application delivered a claimed power output of 140 bhp (103 kW) and acceleration from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 13 seconds along with a top speed slightly short of 120 mph (193 km/h). The four speed manual transmission was unchanged from that used in the 502. Also presented at the 1955 Motor Show was the car’s sister model, the BMW 507, a two seater aluminium bodied roadster targeting customers looking for more raw performance. Both would be overshadowed in the marketplace by headline grabbing sports cars from Mercedes Benz. Although the 503 outsold its sibling, sales volumes were dwarfed by those of the rivals from Stuttgart-Untertürkheim. Sixty years later, the BMW sports cars from the 1950s are much sought after by collectors and enthusiasts both on account of their inherent qualities and because of their rarity.

 

This is a very nice and very rare non period photo that reflects a wonderful era of BMW ‘s automotive history in a wonderful way.  This is your rare chance to own this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 8" x 10" (ca. 20 x 30 cm).  It makes it perfectly suitable for framing.