BMW 501 1952–1954 car dimensions: 4730 mm long, 1780 mm wide and 1530 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,340 kg.
The cabin seats five or six in soft wide seats with high comfort and generous front legroom from the remote gearbox mount. It has a wood dashboard, chrome accents, glovebox and standard effective heating. Controls use physical switches and a column shifter. No electronic driver aids appear in period specs.
The boot holds typical period travel luggage but is small by modern standards. Rear seats do not fold to expand space.
Published weights give a payload of 385 kg. No factory towing figures are listed.
The cabin seats six on front and rear benches with a column shifter that frees floor space and adds legroom. Soft cloth upholstery feels plush but offers limited support on long drives. An effective heating and ventilation system keeps the space warm. The ride is comfortable thanks to adjustable torsion-bar suspension.
Fuel tank holds 58 litres.
Road-test fuel use around 10.3 L/100 km.
Four-wheel hydraulic self-adjusting drum brakes.
Chassis gives better-than-average side-impact protection.
Short steering column with gear set well back.
Fuel tank mounted above rear axle to cut fire risk.
The 2.0-litre six runs on petrol and returns roughly 10.3 litres per 100 km in period tests. Tank capacity is 58 litres.
Brakes are hydraulic drums at all four wheels and self-adjust. No fixed modern service intervals appear in published material. expect routine oil, filter and chassis checks typical of the era.
Safety design centres on a strong box-section frame for side protection, a short steering column placed rearward, and a fuel tank sited above the rear axle to lower fire risk in a crash. No star ratings exist for this generation.
Keeping the car means watching for body rust and maintaining the torsion-bar suspension and remote gearbox linkage. Parts remain available through specialist clubs and suppliers.
Length 4730 mm, Width 1780 mm, Height 1530 mm, Wheelbase 2835 mm (501 1952–1954)
Sources: manufacturer data, BMW Historic Motor Club.