BMW's six-cylinder 501 was so slow that police on the autobahn got the V8 instead: traffic units on country roads and motorways were issued V8-powered cars specifically because they were faster.
Median 100 hp across 325 similar cars
Lead trim: 501 V8 / 2.6 / 2600 (M502/1 2.6 V8)
BMW 501 (Baroque Angel)501-V8 · 1955–1962
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a BMW 501 (Baroque Angel) yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactBMW's six-cylinder 501 was so slow that police on the autobahn got the V8 instead: traffic units on country roads and motorways were issued V8-powered cars specifically because they were faster.
The 501/3 was introduced in spring 1955 alongside the 501 V8, which featured a detuned version of the 2.6-litre V8 introduced in the 502 the previous year (2,580 cc, M502/1; the BMW OHV V8 has an aluminium alloy block with cast-iron cylinder liners and half the size or smaller than its Detroit contemporaries, with a 74 mm bore and 75 mm stroke). The 501 and 502 model designations were discontinued in 1958, when the 501 V8 was renamed the BMW 2.6 and the 502 the 2.6 Luxus, and the cars continued under those names until 1961 with only two notable changes: power steering became an option in 1959 and front disc brakes were added in 1960. In 1961 the designations changed again, to 2600 and 2600L. The 501 V8/2.6/2600 line (1954–1962 in the production table) accounted for 5,914 cars. The page gives no power figure for the detuned V8.
Collectors Spotted in the BMW 501 (Baroque Angel) Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the BMW 501 (Baroque Angel) yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 501 V8 / 2.6 / 2600 (M502/1 2.6 V8) | 1955–1962 | 2.6 L V8 | 99 hp | — | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
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Owners’ builds
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Photographs
BMW's six-cylinder 501 was so slow that police on the autobahn got the V8 instead: traffic units on country roads and motorways were issued V8-powered cars specifically because they were faster.
BMW's 501 mounted its four-speed gearbox away from the engine, on its own shaft-driven mount — a trade that made the shifter vague but bought the front passengers real extra legroom.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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