Broad Arrow Celebrates BMW Heritage with Exclusive Auction at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este

Source: Broad Arrow Auctions

Reported By: Matthew Kennedy

Broad Arrow Auctions, now the official auction partner of the revered Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, is set to elevate this year’s event with a BMW-only evening sale on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at the storied Villa Erba. A true celebration of BMW’s design legacy and motorsport pedigree, the auction will feature halo models spanning nearly seven decades—each one a benchmark in the brand’s storied timeline.

As part of a 70-car auction held over two days, this BMW-exclusive evening sale underscores the marque’s central role at Villa d’Este, where BMW has long served as host. From one-off racing legends to limited-production grand tourers, the lineup is already turning heads in collector circles.

Estimate: €2,000,000 – €2,300,000

Chassis number 70127 is not just any 507. First delivered in 1958 to a German owner and held within the same family for nearly half a century, this Series II Roadster represents the height of mid-century Bavarian style and engineering. Its subsequent caretakers have maintained its originality with meticulous care, including a fresh black soft-top and a partial interior retrim. Notably, the current owner has added just seven kilometers in seven years—a reverence that underscores its collectible status.

Celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, the 507 remains one of the most sought-after BMWs ever built and is eligible for many of the world’s most prestigious concours and historic driving events.

Estimate: €450,000 – €550,000

One of the original M Division’s most daring creations, the BMW M1 was conceived to battle Porsche in Group 5 racing. Just 453 units were produced, and this example—originally delivered in red to legendary music producer Frank Farian—is among the more distinct. Farian, the creative force behind Boney M and Meat Loaf, commissioned BMW Motorsport to fit the car with Procar-inspired modifications, including a rear wing, flared arches, and upgraded sound system befitting a music icon.

Following a storied journey through Germany, Belgium, and Sweden, this modified M1 now returns to the global stage with concours accolades to its name—including the Owner’s Choice Award at the 2020 Salon Privé.

Estimate: €475,000 – €575,000

Completed on January 30, 1981, this M1 traveled a globe-spanning path under the ownership of Vijay Mallya, co-founder of Force India F1 Team. Delivered new to the UAE and later registered in the UK, the car followed Mallya through Dubai, London, and even Alaska before returning to Europe. Still bearing just under 91,000 kilometers, the M1 is a documented collector gem with an extraordinary provenance.

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Estimate: €200,000 – €225,000

Finished in Titanium Silver over a bold Sport Red and Black leather interior, this 2000 BMW Z8 echoes the lines of its spiritual predecessor, the 507, with under-the-hood aggression provided by a 4.9-liter V8 from the E39 M5. With a 0–100 km/h time of 4.7 seconds, the Z8 offered both nostalgia and blistering modern performance.

Delivered new in Italy in 2001, this example has had just three owners and has traveled a mere 23,000 kilometers in total, retaining its collector-grade status.

Held during one of the most prestigious concours weekends in the world, the Broad Arrow Villa d’Este auction promises to blend Italian elegance with German engineering in one of the most picturesque settings in the collector car universe.

Broad Arrow Auctions, a Hagerty (NYSE: HGTY) company, is a leading global collector car auction house. Founded in 2021 by highly experienced industry veterans, Broad Arrow offers exceptional quality cars to collectors and enthusiasts around the world. As the fastest growing auction house in its segment, Broad Arrow’s flagship annual events include The Monterey Jet Center Auction, in conjunction with Motorlux in California, The Amelia Auction, as the official auction of The Amelia (Concours d’Elegance) in Florida, and The Porsche Auction, in conjunction with Air | Water by Luftgekühlt in California. Broad Arrow expanded its global footprint in 2023, with renowned car specialists joining the team in the UK and Europe. Broad Arrow is launching its first auction in Europe in May 2025 as the new official auction house of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy.

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