For all its industrial might, the United States’ automotive sector arguably failed to produce anything particularly sporting until the arrival of the Chevrolet Corvette.

It was a gap in the market that was filled for decades by affordable sports cars from the likes of Austin-Healey, MG and Triumph.

US importer Max Hoffman was one of the first to recognise an appetite for higher value, higher performance cars.

After introducing American buyers to the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL and Porsche 356, he convinced BMW to tempt customers with its own prestige offering: the 507 Roadster.

Entering production in 1956 and aimed squarely at US buyers, the 507 was a glittering jewel of a car styled by New York-based designer Albrecht von Goertz.

The strict two-seater was both elegant and sporting, with a shark-like body created from lightweight aluminium and dripping with luxurious chrome embellishments.

It was a machine that emanated both class and exclusivity, built for silver screen starlets and cr...