The 507 had all the looks but, ultimately, failed on performance. Newspress
The 507 had all the looks but, ultimately, failed on performance. Newspress

1955's 507 was the soul-stirring flop that helped save BMW



In the 1990s BMW brushed aside the competition in the executive saloon market with refined ease and a sense of confidence and purpose that left other marques in the shade. No self-respecting middle manager or aspiring salesman would be seen in anything else. The peerless engineering and rattle-resistant build quality created an aura of class and respectability that competitors such as Citroen, Rover and Honda simply could not match, even when they began to imitate BMW designs. It therefore came as a surprise to some when the company introduced the sporty Z3, as it seemed a deviation from the blueprint that had brought the company success.

But BMW is a marque with more of a sense of adventure than its average pinstripe suit-wearing driver may imagine. In the early 1950s the German manufacturer unveiled roadster models with the 501 and 502. These were intended to bridge the gap in the market between relatively cheap and cheerful British models from MG and Triumph and the exclusive convertibles of fellow German maker Mercedes. But the original designs were a little bulbous for this market and so American designer-cum-importer Max Hoffman insisted on a smoother, more shapely design that would capture the hearts of the American public. The result was the 503, a sleeker model than its predecessors, with the flowing lines reminiscent of a Lancia, but with the now-trademark BMW double grille.

But although evolution had made the 503 more alluring, it was still not the jaw-dropping model the company craved. That would come in 1955 with the 507.

The 507 was no modified saloon. This was a roadster so beautiful and elegant that even when you see the badge you have to remind yourself it isn't Italian. Like with a beautiful woman, men would turn their heads as they passed to admire her from every angle. That it came from Germany, where function had generally enjoyed bragging rights over form, is testament to the company's desire to create a soul-stirring car, and BMW's pragmatism in heeding the advice of an American who knew the tastes of the American market. It is no accident that its looks are reminiscent of a Ferrari, a continental brand that had successfully captured the imagination over the Atlantic.

But although looking very much the thoroughbred, standing apart from BMWs other models, the 507 shared much of the technology and many of the components. The 3.2L V8 had been used in both of its predecessors and its sister saloons, and while a sturdy, reliable powerplant, it failed to deliver the stirring performance customers demanded. Producing a modest 150hp, it took 11 seconds to reach 100kph, reasonable for the time but a snail's pace compared with rivals from Mercedes and Ferrari.

Nevertheless, it was undoubtedly a breathlessly beautiful car and appeared to be the perfect union of elegance and engineering; a model that would make BMW respected and revered across the world. But sometimes, promise doesn't materialise into success, and the 507 brought the company close to bankruptcy.

It was intended to retail at about US$5,000 (Dh18,366), making it expensive but within the reach of many of the professional classes. But production problems saw the cost escalate to $10,000 by the time it hit showrooms, elevating it into the realms of the much-admired but the seldom bought.

Despite having the ultimate celebrity endorsement in Elvis Presley, who later gave his model to the James Bond actress Ursula Andress, few were willing to meet the vastly inflated price. Having hoped to make 5,000 cars a year, the final production was a mere 252. BMW made a substantial loss on every car sold and, in 1959, its final year of production, the company registered a loss of $15 million. Unsurprisingly, production ceased and BMW returned to its stock and trade of sturdy saloons.

But the 507 lingered long in the memory. More than 200 of the models still survive and are some of the most desirable and blushingly expensive classic cars on the market. Recent examples have been sold at auction for more than $900,000 (Dh3.3 million).

Once BMW had licked its wounds and brought order back to the balance books, it dreamt of producing a sports car once more. The Z3 and Z4 have styling cues taken from their predecessor and have sold in their millions. And though the 507 was a financial flop in the short term, in the longer term it helped provide the pedigree that has seen BMW become one of the world's most successful brands.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site

The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.

England squad

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale 

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Ben White

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse

Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Raheem Sterling

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners

Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now

Company%20Profile
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Roll of honour

Who has won what so far in the West Asia Premiership season?

Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain

Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons

West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles

West Asia Cup - Winners: Bahrain; Runners up: Dubai Exiles

West Asia Trophy - Winners: Dubai Hurricanes; Runners up: DSC Eagles

Final West Asia Premiership standings - 1. Jebel Ali Dragons; 2. Abu Dhabi Harlequins; 3. Bahrain; 4. Dubai Exiles; 5. Dubai Hurricanes; 6. DSC Eagles; 7. Abu Dhabi Saracens

Fixture (UAE Premiership final) - Friday, April 13, Al Ain – Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher:  Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPAD%20PRO%20(12.9%22%2C%202022)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
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How to get exposure to gold

Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.

A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.

Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.

Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.

London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long

However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.

Thank You for Banking with Us

Director: Laila Abbas

Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

Company%20profile
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'Midnights'
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Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:

Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona

Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate

Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid


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