501
We arrange finance on the BMW 501, built 1952 to 1962, for limited companies and LLPs, for business borrowing over £25,000, and for individuals borrowing over £60,260 under the high net worth exemption.
- BUILT
- 1952 to 1962
- ERA
- 1940s and 50s
- BODY
- 4-door sedan/saloon; 2-door cabriolet; 2-door coupé
- ENGINE
- 1971 cc M337/1 I6 (501); 1971 cc M337/2 I6 (501A/501B); 2077 cc M337/3 I6 (501/3); 2580 cc M502/1 V8 (501 V8/2.6)
- LAYOUT
- FR layout
- DESIGNER
- Peter Szymanowski
- BUILT IN
- Germany
Financing a 501
Cars of this period are usually bought restored or part restored, so the paperwork behind the restoration matters as much as the car in front of you. Lenders want to see who did the work and what it cost.
The 501 was built 1952 to 1962 in Germany and is recorded with a 1971 cc m337/1 i6 (501); 1971 cc m337/2 i6 (501a/501b); 2077 cc m337/3 i6 (501/3); 2580 cc m502/1 v8 (501 v8/2.6) , styled by Peter Szymanowski. Those details matter to a lender only insofar as they support a valuation: what is being funded is a specific car with a specific history, not a model line.
A company usually takes hire purchase or lease purchase on a car like this. A certified high net worth buyer borrows under the exemption. An owner who already has the 501 in the garage can raise money against it instead. In each case the lender wants an independent valuation, evidence of condition and a clear view of how the borrowing is repaid.
Before you buy
- 01Restoration invoices, photographs and the name of the restorer
- 02Structural corrosion in chassis, floors and inner wings
- 03Originality of engine, gearbox and axle against the build record
- 04Hood, frame and seals, and the state of the floors underneath them.
- 05An independent valuation the lender will accept
- 06Agreed value insurance quoted before completion
Model reference: Wikipedia. Specifications vary by year and market, so check the individual car.
Questions
Can my company buy a BMW 501 on finance?
Yes. A limited company or LLP can buy on hire purchase or lease purchase, with the agreement in the company name. It is not regulated consumer credit, whatever the amount. How the car is treated for tax depends on how the business uses it, so speak to your accountant.
Is a 501 too old to finance?
Age on its own is rarely the obstacle. Specialist lenders assess the car, its provenance and an independent valuation rather than applying a cut-off year, so a 1952 to 1962 car can often be financed, subject to status and lender criteria.
Can I raise money against a 501 I already own?
Often, yes, and the car normally stays with you. The lender takes security over it, and how much can be raised depends on the valuation and on how readily that model sells. We arrange this for companies and for certified high net worth owners.
I want a 501 for personal use. Can you help?
That would be regulated consumer credit, which requires FCA authorisation we do not hold. Send the enquiry anyway: it is handled through one of our regulated partners, and we tell you which firm before anyone contacts you.
Finance on this page is arranged for limited companies and LLPs, for sole traders and partnerships borrowing over £25,000 wholly or predominantly for business purposes, and for individuals borrowing over £60,260 who have signed a high net worth statement. Send us the details either way: cases outside that are handled through one of our regulated partners, and we tell you who before anyone contacts you.
Start the entry formModel details compiled from marque records, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Specifications vary by year and market, so check the individual car. Market values are added to this page as the price data for BMW is published. Questions about a specific car are best sent to enquiries@classiccarfinance.uk.