The BMW 507 Ultimate Build Thread!!!

[A12pilot]

Thanks, Bruce. Too kind. Sammitron, missed you among others this year at MCACN.

Spent some time today seeing if my idea of using a donor convertible top would work and surprisingly, it does......sorta. It falls a little short on the header panel but the width is about as perfect as I could ask for.





I used a piece of sheet metal to extend the header panel just to see how it'll line up. Obviously, more work needed (ya think?) but I'm liking the preliminary vision.








The car has a functioning top now! It's all falling into place....Mwwaaahahaha!!

I don't know what that actually means, but it sounded good at the time

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Cheers
Dave

[Lynn]

Originally Posted by A12pilot

Thanks men! All the positive vibes are much appreciated.

I was a member of the BMW CCA and had a thread going, but not much interest there so I stopped posting and let the membership expire. ......


Cheers
Dave

Not surprised. About 40 years ago, there were a LOT of guys in that club that would have gone ape chit over this build. Different world today. Starting changing to mostly yuppies in the late 80s. A guy named Rob Siegel had a column in the Roundel (the car club magazine) every month entitle "The Hack Mechanic", and it was awesome. I don't know how long since he quit writing. These days a "diy" column might be about changing the floor mats. Well, maybe not that bad, but you get the picture.

[A12pilot]

That’s a good point, Lynn. Very few threads on the Ferrari forum too about actually working on the car versus where to get service done, wax, etc. But then again, those cars are a lot more complicated than these old schoolies!

Cheers
Dave

[njsteve]

Originally Posted by Lynn

Not surprised. About 40 years ago, there were a LOT of guys in that club that would have gone ape chit over this build. Different world today. Starting changing to mostly yuppies in the late 80s. A guy named Rob Siegel had a column in the Roundel (the car club magazine) every month entitle "The Hack Mechanic", and it was awesome. I don't know how long since he quit writing. These days a "diy" column might be about changing the floor mats. Well, maybe not that bad, but you get the picture.

Back in the 1980's I had a grey market 635 CSI Sharknose Euro car in Polaris Silver with black BMW Motorsport stripes. Coolest commuter car on the planet. I used to drive it from New Haven to Boston every week while attending law school. (I'd commute back home on weekends to work on the musclecars). Sold it in early 1990's. Then I got an M3 in 1998 but sold it year or so later. Even in 1998, the tide had turned on the BMW websites. It was all about where to get your oil changed and what oil to request and the best wax for your detailer to use on your car. Ugh. Not one thread on how to work on the car yourself. That was a main reason I went back to the old cars and websites like this where real manly persons (like Dave) do manly things to manly cars.

[L_e_e]

For P-cars http://forums.pelicanparts.com
For bimmers http://forums.pelicanparts.com/bmw-forums/

Both of these have lots of hands on, how-to technical information

[Lynn]

Yes they do. There are still some active bimmerphiles that actually work on cars on a couple other sites as well.

Steve, my son is getting ready to start restoration of a 1980 Euro model 635CSi. I am still driving my 83 745i turbo car, which is also a Euro model, as it was never offered in the US. I believe that may have been the first production car with the "new" anti lock brakes.

Sorry for the thread hijack Dave.

[njsteve]

Originally Posted by Lynn

Yes they do. There are still some active bimmerphiles that actually work on cars on a couple other sites as well.

Steve, my son is getting ready to start restoration of a 1980 Euro model 635CSi. I am still driving my 83 745i turbo car, which is also a Euro model, as it was never offered in the US. I believe that may have been the first production car with the "new" anti lock brakes.

Sorry for the thread hijack Dave.

Hijack continued...My 635 was a 1981. Amazing automobile (except for the A/C that would instantly freeze up the evaporator and nothing would come out of the vents.) But zooming on the interstate with that manual transmission and 6 cylinder just purring away. New Haven to Boston was a 120 mile trip and I could make it in around 90 minutes on a good day. That was before the Connecticut Stae Troopers purchased a fleet of Buick Gran Nationals and initiated their "Wolfpack" hunting teams for speeders. Fun times while it lasted.

[COPO]

Played around with BMW's right after college graduation. DD was an early 80's Hartge modified Euro 323i. This was a straight 6 engine 3-series back when only the 4 cylinder 320i was available in the US. I added nitrous on it as well and it would smoke most cars from a red light and handled like it was on rails. Was a great car and looked killer with the Euro bumpers.

Now back to the thread. What an incredible build. I really enjoy the updates and of course the pace of the build is impressive to say the least. Go Super Dave.

[Z282NV]

Dave, do you know this 1959 507 coming up at Mecum Kissimmee auction in January 2023? It should go for a pretty penny!

https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0123-54...-507-roadster/

[A12pilot]

Joe,

That’s an extremely late Series II, only ten from the last one. Once again, an owner passes on and everything of his gets sold. This one, Chassis #143, so for just shy of $2mil USD last weekend.



While at MCACN, I was chatting with John Kraman thanking him for the kind words when announcing my 68 Mustang selling at Mecum Dallas a few years ago, and the subject of my 507 build came up. Understandably, he questioned my sanity but did mention this car although nothing had been announced. Now here it is!

Looks like a road trip to Kissimmee!!

Thanks for the positive comments guys! Oh, and the Shark Nose M6 is on my list or at least a nice 635CSI. They’re out there!!

Cheers
Dave