BMW recommenced car production in 1952 with the introduction of the 501 luxury saloon.

The 501 had been announced in 1951 and first appeared with a development of the company’s pre-war six-cylinder engine before gaining a much needed performance boost, in the form of a 2.6-litre V8, in 1954.

Designed by Alfred Böning, this new power unit had been inspired by American V8’s but was constructed (the first of its kind) of aluminium alloy rather than cast iron.

Towards the end of 1955 a 3.2-litre version was introduced and the big saloon’s model designation changed to ‘502’.

BMW was encouraged by Austrian-born entrepreneur Max Hoffman, at that time the US importer of various European makes, who knew just the man to style the car: Count Albrecht von Goertz, an independent industrial designer who had worked for the legendary Raymond Loewy on the latter’s trend-setting Studebakers.

Designer of everything from fountain pens to furniture, Goertz had never before styled an entire car and wou...