This year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed will also celebrate BMW’s centenary. In order to do so, Lord March, the founder of the annual event will be opening the festivities on June 23 by driving up the Goodwood 1.16-mile hillclimb behind the wheel of a beautiful 1957 BMW 507 Roadster, paying homage to this year’s Honoured Marque.
The 3.2-litre V8-engined BMW 507 was driven by Hollywood stars Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley in its heyday but only 252 were ever built. Today, the car is regarded as one of the most desired creations ever to come out of Munich, prices for mint models going up close to seven figure territory quite often.
With a top speed of 122 mph (196 km/h), the 507 was beautifully hand-built and, while it was priced £3,200 when it was first sold in ’57, the rarity of the model now means that the example Lord March will drive up the hill is estimated to be worth around £2 million ($2.9 million).
Lord March said: “I’m delighted that BMW has chosen to mark its centenary with us. Our magnificent central feature sculpture outside Goodwood House will celebrate BMW’s sporting success and I will be honoured to drive one of the rarest, and most beautiful, BMWs ever built to open what promises to be a terrific show.”
The BMW 507 and Lord March will take to the hillclimb track to open this year’s Festival of Speed at 9am on Thursday, June 23.
