This Greek king’s BMW 507 is your chance at garage royalty

At the risk of stealing the spotlight from Prince Harry of Wales and American actress Meghan Markle, or perhaps offending the 100 billion or so people who seem to be counting the days until the two tie the knot on May 19 (that number, by the way, is 33), another potential royal wedding will be held eight days prior—if the betrothed in question reaches the reserve, that is.

Appropriately dressed in traditional wedding attire of white (paint) and black (interior), the 1959 BMW 507 roadster that was originally owned by King Constantine II of Greece will be offered May 11 at Bonhams’ Monaco sale at Villa La Vigie. Hagerty places the average value of a ’59 BMW 507 roadster in #3 (good) condition at $1.75 million. Considering the provenance of this 507, however, Bonhams places its high estimate at nearly twice that: €2,100,000–€2,600,000 ($2,600,000–$3,200,000).

“The BMW 507 is widely recognized as the car that redefined the German marque and firmly established it as a creator of top-end luxury vehicles,” Bonhams says in a press release. “It perfectly combines striking elegance with sporty performance and has been favored by celebrities since its release in 1956.”

Created for the growing American market, the BMW 507 was intended to fill the gap between the high-priced Mercedes-Benz 300 SL and cheaper British roadsters. BMW originally planned to build 5000, but high production costs limited the final number to 252 over six model years (1956–60), including 217 of the roomier Series II models like the one being offered.

According to Bonhams, the car was delivered new to King Constantine II in 1959. A sportsman, Constantine served in all three of Greece’s armed services and won an Olympic gold medal in sailing, the first Greek gold medal in the sport since 1912. After Greece voted in favor of a republic in 1974, King Constantine II was deposed and was in exile for nearly 40 years before returning to live in his native country five years ago. He is the godfather of Harry’s older brother, Prince William.

Other famous owners of high-end 507s include entertainers Elvis Presley and Fred Astaire, actress Ursula Andress, and F1 drivers John Surtees and Hans Stuck.