Body style: Coupé (two-door)
Segment: Premium Coupe
Production years: 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959
It was the first coupe built by BMW after WWII and it was a disaster in financial terms. It was built before the 507 roadster, which was another financial loss for the struggled German car-maker.
The war was over and the economy started to rise again. The American car-dealer Max Hoffman asked BMW to build a car to compete against the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL coupe and convertible. The 503 was introduced at the 1955 Geneva Motor Show and it was built as a left-hand-drive only.
With a design signed by Count Albrecht Goertz, the designer of the Datsun 240Z, the car was sold alongside the 501 and 502 sedan vehicles.
With the 503, the BMW said a firm goodbye to the pre-war forms, with tall and narrow engine compartments and curved, exposed fenders. The flush bodywork, with the doors and fenders aligned, was a modern styling. The long hood and short cabin featured four windows which could be lowered. It was more of a fake-cabriolet than just a regular coupe. The narrow and tall kidney grille was inspired by the last BMW coupe, built before WWII.
Inside, the 503 featured a luxurious interior for the era, with seating for four. It was offered with two different steering wheels, one with four spokes which looked like an X and another one with two spokes that evoked an airplane wing. The three dials on the dash were covered by a small lip on top. It was the beginning of the instrument cluster. A radio was mounted in the center.
The 3.2-liter V8 engine offered 140 hp. Unlike the 300 SL, which featured a direct injection fuel system, the BMW engineering team chose the classic carburetor system. The power went to the rear wheels via a 4-speed manual gearbox.
ENGINE SPECS - 3.2L V8 4MT (140 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V8 |
Displacement: | 3169 cm3 |
Power: | 103 KW @ 4800 RPM 140 HP @ 4800 RPM 138 BHP @ 4800 RPM |
Torque: | 164 lb-ft @ 2500 RPM 222 Nm @ 2500 RPM |
Fuel System: | 2 Carburetors |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 118 mph (190 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 12.8 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Drums |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 6.00 H 16 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 187 in (4750 mm) |
Width: | 67.3 in (1709 mm) |
Height: | 56.7 in (1440 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 55.1/55.9 in (1,400/1,420 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 111.6 in (2835 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.7 in (170 mm) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.4 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3230 lbs (1465 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3968 lbs (1800 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 16.8 mpg US (14 L/100Km) |