These companies have been at war for over a century to gain the title of the worlds fastest automotive manufacturer.

Mecum Auctions welcomes an estimated 100,000 car enthusiasts and bidders to its “gearhead amusement park” with 4,500 vehicles consigned for the event, which runs Jan. 6-18.

By most quantifiable measures, the BMW 503 was a failure. The same could be said for all of the ‘50-series’ cars, which sold in lower numbers than hoped and weren’t profitable. But just take a look at ...