When we think of BMW, luxury is often part of the equation. But more often than not, especially among enthusiast circles, the brand’s provenance as a performance-oriented manufacturer is what we think of. M3s, M5s, the venerable 3-Series – wildly entertaining to drive and sometimes even affordable. But prior to that identity being cultivated, BMW’s attention was locked on competing with the likes of Mercedes for luxury buyers. Enter the 1961 BMW 2600 Luxus here on eBay, recently pulled from long-term storage by the seller. Special thanks to Charles H. for this tip!

I’ve only seen one of these in real life, and the body lines will leave you wondering if you’re actually staring at a BMW. Fortunately, the trademark kidney grills will clue you in, as will the roundels on the hubcaps. The first offering of this car was known as the 501 and later as the 502 which included the automotive industry’s first mass-produced aluminum-block V8 engine, which offered a much-needed boost in power to move the large saloon with authority.

Later cars like this one underwent a nomenclature change to 2600 and 2600L, respectively. This one on offer bears the “L” designation, which also signifies it has the more powerful 110 b.h.p. engine. Paired with a manual transmission, I’ll bet this is a car you’d enjoy hustling to Cars and Coffee on an autumn morning. The seller claims it ran when he pulled it into long-term storage, but offers no insight as to whether the engine still turns freely. The interior was redone before the car was stored, and it still looks tidy inside.

As for getting that smooth-idling V8 back in action, your guess is as good as mine. Parts availability will likely be a challenge, as the seller notes the shared components between the 501/502 and BMW’s famed 507 resulted in many of the sedan variants being pillaged to keep the more desirable roadsters on the road. The car is located in Florida and only has spots of surface rust across most of the body and no serious rot detected. The bidding is over $7K with the reserve unmet, and I’m willing to bet it will be the only one we’ll see on eBay for quite some time.