WOW, can't wait to see it in Rosemont.

Moving ahead, the body is almost all down to 320 so I'm almost ready to shoot the Papyrus White sealer coat. Meanwhile, I fitted the seats.

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This required me to install the dash. I had to cut the tracks (too high) along with the backrest since the seats are way too high and protrude above the body. I cut and spliced the frame down so as you can see now, they only are slightly higher than the body including some compensation for the folding top and cover.

Upholstery Shop will also cut the foam on the seat base down too. I can easily fit a 6' 5" person in the driver's seat. Plenty of headroom too!

Cheers,
Dave

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My tank is about done! Woohoo! I'll be headed up to Philly in the Mighty 310 to pick it up later this month or next.

This was made by the gentleman who got me access to the 507 being restored so I could get detailed photos and measurements. He's an old skool coach builder who's incredible at his art.

The goal is to have a part of the car made by everyone that has a hand and supported me through this build. I'm getting all verkelmpt here.... talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic....Why do you park in the driveway and drive on the Parkway?

Cheers
Dave

You could drop this car off in my garage the way it is now, and I wouldn't have the skills to finish it..........Keep up the good work, Dave.

every time i look at this thread i am blown away by how it looks like a real car, while keeping in mind that it is being built by hand with limited high end tools, just pure talent

Thank you guys. Very kind words!:worship::worship::worship::worship:

I can’t wait to get some interim color on it and start making progress on assembly. I’m “blocked” out!:shocked:

In other news, I’ll be posting up how I “BMWized” the mighty Olds 215 shortly! That is, if FedEx can ever tell me WHERE my damn Knecht air clear is!!:no::thumbsdown:

Thanks again fellas. I appreciate the positive thoughts!

Cheers
Dave

And here we are in flat Papyrus White!:headbang: No gloss, as this isn't the final paint (and may not be the final color). :dunno:

Now I can clean the shop head to toe and get ready for mechanical assembly! :3gears:


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Cheers
Dave

PS: this was sprayed outside in 10mph winds. Less bugs in this paint than in my Mustang sprayed in a booth! :bs:

That is just so SLICK!

Way cool!:biggthumpup::biggthumpup::biggthumpup:

Thanks guys! Very happy it for now. I turned my attention to the engine and decided to make stock stamped steel covers look like cast aluminum BMW covers. Sounds easy, right? :hmmm: Actually, it doesn't. :eek2:

I had my neighbor print out the letters in high temp plastic and then glued them to the covers. The stock Olds covers have several reliefs in them which I had to smooth over first. Once that was done and the letters in place, I used a brush and blotted the letters with 4:1 fill primer. Once satisfied all the print lines were covered and hidden, I sprayed a couple heavy coats for uniformity. The last coat I lowered the PSI and loaded up the material. That created a very rough orange peel and once sprayed with cast aluminum paint, it matched the look I was going for. I mean, if there's one thing I can do it's spray orange peel!!:smile::rolleyes2:

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OK, more to come.

Cheers
Dave

Damn cool!:worship:

Those are GREAT, I love it when a vision becomes reality.

I see it has the same zundfolge as a Chevy V8.

Jesus H Christ !!!!!!!!

Ha! Thanks Charley!:headbang:

Yes, can’t put a wrong firing order on there. I’ll confuse myself!:shocked::dunno:

Up next will be formulating the next phase and plan. I’ll be in the plannification stage to see what comes next. I know I’ll be spraying the trunk, interior, and engine bay in DP48 white epoxy for a fresh coat and then undercoat the wheel wells and trunk floor underside so it’s less obtrusive hanging down below the bumper.

Interestingly, I was talking with the gentleman who’s restore six of them and we were chatting about the undercarriage details. I’m clear on what the factory did and what restorers commonly do. As expected, they aren’t remotely the same. Much like “over-restored” muscle cars.

We’ll see which way I’ll go in the smaller details. I have an idea of what I want to do. I think first I need a lift in the shop next!:headbang:

Cheers
Dave

wunderbar!

Wheels painted today before work. This is just to match them to the body. Final details will be chrome edge with a painted center. Next up will be exhaust heat shielding that gets bolted to the underside of the floors like the original. :scholar:

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Cheers
Dave

----Those valve covers are so friggin CQQL!!!....Bill S

Agreed!!:headbang:

Crazy question Dave, but shouldn't the other valve cover have the logo and numbers going the opposite direction so the breather holes on both are facing the front of the engine when installed? I'm no OldsmoBileMW aficiando but enquiring minds want to know.

Good eye, Steve-a-Reeno!:eek2:

The problem is, left and right covers are not the same. One has a breather port that sticks up 2” or so. The other is for the PCV and flush. I used both flush mounted covers and therefore, only option when swapping L to R is to have the hole offset. I could have relocated the hole and baffle, but that would take time away from building the frame and all the other junk and stuff like that!:scholar::burnout:

Make sense? If so, let me know. I forgot what I was talking about.:blush:

Cheers:beers:
Dave

No Problemo (or should I say Nein Zundfolgo?) :hmmm:

Just doin' my job. I figured you missed having me kvetching over your decisions like back in 2021. :smile:

https://youtu.be/YwuAGLPm8SU

Just a quick update video! :eek2:

Cheers
Dave

Simply amazing work. You should be extremely proud of what you've accomplished.

Thanks Dave, that's very kind of you to say. I'm proud as punch! :hmmm: Whatever that means. :laugh:

Been working on a few detail things so I'll update later this week again.

Now that the bodymess is done until later this fall, assembly should hopefully go swimmingly I tells ya!

Cheers
Dave

In keeping with the original plan of using parts that are similar but not exact due to outrageous costlyness, my Rudge knock-off wheel simulation uses something you'd not expect to find on a car. Some say this car will have everything but the kitchen sink in it! Well, that's partly true now except it's not the sink we're talking about, but what goes in it. A pot! :hmmm:

Let's face it, when my brain starts a stormin', who knows what's going to come out of it. I started with a 7" sauce pan and cut it down to size.
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This fits the wheel center perfectly and the height allows clearance for the lugs.

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I had an idea for the rivets of the center hub so I enlisted my help of my neighbor who printed off a rivet ring in the exact dimension I needed.

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And once all painted and assembled, the spinner will hold this on and simulate the Rudge wheel.

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There will be in internal ring around the center opening to prevent the spinner from crushing the dome, but it'll only be hand tight anyway since it's just holding the cover on and not the wheel. A cool and fun side project that I just get so excited over when they come out correctly, like the valve covers! :headbang: So I guess this is a literal "knock-off" wheel. Get it? I know, terrible.

Undercoating in the wheel wells.
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And lastly, some ancilliaries mounted in the engine bay: Regulator, relays, fuse panel, washer bottle and washer motor. Incidentally, these are all correct in appearance and location as original!

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Updates comin' in hot!!!

Cheers
Dave

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And seeing how a real set is about $35,000, I think these will work! :eek2:

Cheers:beers:
Dave

INCREDIBLE Dave! INCREDIBLE

Great idea, Dave. Don't get in trouble for robbing the kitchen of supplies.

Geeez....guy acts like he knows what he's doing!

Bashton

Dave you do realize you're going to have to dress up like Elvis when you debut this car. That would be the perfect icing on the reproduction cake.

Man Dave!! That wheel center is the s#%t!!! Be careful you don't loose them. That non-stick coating may be a problem!

Frying pan hub caps, now we need to call you Master Chef.

I can’t wait to look over this car from end to end!!!

The little frying pans are such a nice touch!!!

Ryan W31

Thanks men!:worship: I appreciate the feedback and compliments! Fortunately, the wheel centers can also be used to prepare scrumptious Bavarian meals as well! :smirk:

Here's the first batch of parts from Germany ready to be shipped to me.

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Front grilles, trunk bezel, hood spire, tail light gaskets, and the underhood tool kit box. The trunk bezel needs to be fitted to my car then chromed. Tool box will need a restoration too.

Last parts are the side grilles! Woohoo!:headbang:

Cheers
Dave

Here's a rarely seen photo of Elvis' car when it was white having the lipstick love letters removed right before it was painted Fire Engine red at his request. The second photo shows his car after paint and during wetsanding.

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I'm thinking if that happens to me, Kelly might have something to say about that! :shocked:

Cheers
Dave

Who owns this car now?

Jack Castor owned it and worked a deal with BMW to take it and restored it with the caveat they restored his other one as well. Vids on YouTube of the restoration is this car and it now resides in the BMW museum in Germany. Jack passed on and never saw the final restoration. The other car is owned by a good friend of his. Incidentally, I bought reproduction tail light housings from him which were in Castor’s estate. Those were manufactured by Herman and Gerhardt Bold who owned three 507s and were very active in the 507 world in the 70s/80s. The “Pontiac Blue” 507 that just sold for $2.3mil one of theirs. The other was a Black one that sold at Hershey the year before for $1.7mil. The last of the three Bold 507s is being restored and it’s the one I visited to get my measurements from. Albert and I talk frequently and I visited him the other day while checking out my gas tank and visiting another 507 in the area. He’s very interested in my 507 build and loves following along!

Cheers
Dave

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So trim panel time! Behind the rear seat is a package tray where the tops rests upon when folded down. This is just light plywood which will be covered by the upholstery shop when the time comes

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Here it is finished and the quarter side shields in place to. All will be upholstered.

Below is the heater box in place along with the wiper transmission and defroster vents.

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I'll create a duct work to separate the left and right foot well vents as well as a plenum for the defroster. The levers are MGB levers which I'll cut and modify to fit in the factory opening on the dash

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Wiper function testing! Everything works as it should. Sweep range is good, intermittent, low, high. I used tape on the knobs to simulate the arms so I could monitor direction.
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And here are the ancilliaries mounted on the right engine beam. All in the correct spot and are correct per the 507.
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Funny how the wipers are the first thing that works on a car that will never see rain! :cool2:

Cheers
Dave