Dave, were the carpet edges trimmed with vinyl on original cars? If so, are you going to have that done? Maybe you cannot even see the edges when everything is installed.

I can't help but wonder what will happen to this car when it's finished. You have sold the other cars that you worked so hard on. Will the same thing happen to this one?

They’re almost identical looking steering wheels, Bill. I guess stylish at the time. It’ll work but when the original comes in I’ll install that. The more correct parts the better, but it’s always good to have options.:biggthumpup:

Rick, yes, they had binding around all the edges. I’ll have that on mine in dark blue. Here’s a picture of an unrestored 507 with its carpet style. Right now, those pieces I cut are just laying in place. The tunnel will be flush with the floor and the floor pieces will cover that where it joins up and the binding on the floor pieces will clean it all up.:biggthumpup:

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Fear not, Freddie!! This one goes nowhere!!:no: The only way this would leave would be a very big check with a lot of zeros and commas. It would have to be a life changing offer, I can assure you. I can always restore another anything, but I’m only making something from nothing once!:grin:

Cheers
Dave

Greetings Yenkonians!

Making progress and approaching the final stretch! Hood is on and aligned, and the carpet is done in the trunk and interior floor. Still some more trimming to do on the jambs, and I've got the fabric ready to go for the convertible top.

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It's starting to look more like the poster in the back!!

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Cheers,
Dave

Amazing!

I am at a loss for words.

Damn Dave.......that looks great!

VERY, VERY cool. WOW!

Incredible! As was said, there are no words. The talent you have is amazing. Makes me slap myself when I run into a small problem on my restorations and get discouraged when compared to what you go through.

Wow, thanks men!:worship::worship::worship: I appreciate the positive thoughts!:laugh:

I’m working on the convertible top now, and man, it’s more challenging than I thought. But, not knowing how to do something hasn’t stopped me before!:eek2::wink:

More to come!

Cheers :beers:
Dave

I have to admit, this thread makes me smile every time I see an update, knowing one of us is talented enough to build an entire vehicle from scratch. Just amazing.

Absolutely and couldn't have said it better.

"...knowing one of us is talented enough to build an entire vehicle from scratch."

That "one of us" shall remain.... Super Dave!!

He cooks, he sews, paints, cleans and builds cars from nothing!
I think someone’s going to offer you big money for this, it’s one of a kind for sure!

You need to make a Hellcat Yugo next.

Hellcat Yugo? I dunno Steve. Isn't the engine as big as the car?:laugh: I really appreciate all the encouragement along the way here. I'm thinking it's only a few months away from being done!!!:scholar:

Been working on the top some this past week and there's a few more details to finish up. I've shown through other pictures that I'm no upholsterer, and this top should reinforce the fact I don't know what I'm doing. Step one, buy some fabric. Step two, lay fabric across top and stare at it for a few hours to formulate a plan and realize once again, I don't know what I'm doing. :frown: But as this project has shown, that sure hasn't stopped me before!:wink:

I started by gluing a pad to the wooden header and securing the fabric to that by wrapping it around the edge. Now that it was tight, I then started on the back and screwed the top down with the retaining strip. The sail panels are separate pieces and it was an interesting process on figuring out where the top could be attached to the frame and where it couldn't. Several folding cycles and it was clear that right above the side widows is where it needed to fold and not be secured. The other areas are 12" behind the door glass. I figured this out by using tape and folding the top down several times. Once I was sure about nothing stretching or pulling, I tucked it in and glued it down. The sides by the door glass will fasten with snaps to the body when the top is up, and then unsnap and tuck into the well when the top is down. Snaps around the back edge will secure the folding top cover (of which I will make next week).

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There are a few things left to do. The back glass installation, front weather stripping, front latches need to be mounted, and the interior headliner bow coverings.

So now I have a fully functioning convertible top which will be up only for photos showing it has a functioning top, during transport, or at a show if an inadvertent shower comes through.:scholar:

Add this to the resume' of "Dave doesn't know what he's doing!":hmmm::biggthumpup:

If the weather warms up next week I can get the wheels painted. Mother Nature likes to throw temps out this time of year like Powerball numbers: 81, 32, 65, 29, 75, 40.....:bs:

Cheers
Dave

Incredible! Looks great Super Dave.

To round out 2024, the engine bay is 100% done. All fluids are in, everything is leaking as it should, :rolleyes: and I'm ready to fire it up next week! :headbang:

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Can't wait for the inaugural driver next month. A perfect way to ring in the new year! :burnout:

Cheers
Dave

Dave what you've built is spectacular. We are all awaiting your inaugural drive. Thanks for sharing this amazing build with our members.

How can you possibly top this amazing build?

Not sure anyone on this board can and I am not talking restoration but rather a complete build. Unbelievable build!

Wow, you guys are truly amazing! :worship::worship::worship: Thank you for the compliments! We’re rounding the corner to the finish!:biggthumpup:

I think I’m going to need a break after this. Pfffllpppp hahaha! Oh man….now THAT was funny!!:haha:

Cheers
Dave

With a few photos of the top up, I folded it back and made a cover for it using the leftover material. This is a pattern I'll take to the shop and have the upholstery guy sew up a correct one with snaps using the same material that the seats and door panels use. It's going to tie the whole interior together. Meanwhile, I'm ready to bolt on the Hardtop shortly and start finishing that after I get the a-pillar trim and padded dash fabricated.

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I've done a few heat up and cool down cycles of the engine and all seems to be well.

Rounding the final corner..... come on seats!! This is why I try to do everything myself:rolleyes2:

Cheers
Dave

Looking great Dave.

Is that Viper yours? Don't recall seeing anything on that before?

----Looks fantastic, Dave! Does the R on the end of the license plate denote reproduction???....Bill S

So close it must be painful!!!

The blue and white are an awesome colour combo!!

Ryan W31

Thanks, guys! Yes, Joe. That’s my 1997 GTS. This is my second one. The 84 Ferrari 308 GTS is mine as well, and not to be confused with my old 328 GTS. Fun stuff!:burnout:

Bill, close. It stands for Replica. The friend of mine that gave me the scanned files for the 3D parts I printed from his car coined that phrase for cars that are replicas of real ones. He’s very well versed in Pebble Beach cars and that whole scene and denotes non-factory built cars with the “R” designation. I like it, so I adapted it. After all, this isn’t a 507 since it’s not a factory built car. Much like all the repop Cobras aren’t real Cobras no matter how nicely built. At least that is my view on them. Think of it as an internal use designation code!:haha:

Cheers:beers:
Dave

Just amazing Dave - looks great!

Just amazing, Dave!

Thanks guys. I appreciate all the comments and positve thoughts!:smile:

A thought occurred to me this morning while disposing of some coffee into the septic system. I've written several articles for the BMW Classic Car Club's magazine and am penning the final article now. While it's documented here on this site amongst us family, there's still plenty of stories and information to share about my build that I haven't described on the thread due to band width exceedance reasons. And you all know me and my lack of words and humor :rolleyes2: , I mean, why not write a book to bore the rest of humanity?:hmmm: So that's what I'm thinking of doing. I know, what else?:eek2:

Anyone have any info on amateur publishing? I think Amazon has something like this but not sure. I'd want it avaible to sell on there in hardbound form and indigimous for easy Kindle reading. Of course, once I hit the NYT Best Seller's List, I'll take the proceeds and retire to the private island I'd have purchased with the royalty checks and sip margaritas on the beach. :biggthumpup: Or, stay gainfully employed and pay off the debt I incurred doing this. Either way, a win-win for humanity!:laugh:

Any thoughts on the process? Publishing? Sticking to the day job and forget this nonsense?:biggthumpup:

Thanks men!

Cheers
Dave

Wes Eisenschenks would be a good person to talk to, he has written several car books, (I even penned a chapter of one of them) Lost Muscle Cars or Diego Rosenberg wrote Selling the American Muscle Car (so much goodness in that book)

They would have good insight.

Ryan W31

----Dave,,,I've heard a bunch of stuff about self publishing. I would think you should google it (not that you haven't already thought of that) and do your due diligence. There's everything from family tree stuff to full blown books. I have no doubt you will figure it out!. The story will be thrillingly exiting of course! I would expect no less
....Bill S

I tried writing a book on building rear ends in the early 2000s, but couldn't figure out how to do it. I gave up and as soon as I did there were 3 books that came out on the subject. One of them had a lot of stuff in it that I had posted on web sights when helping other people. I guess I missed my fortune. I hope you figure it out.

Thanks, Bill. I appreciate that! Yes, I’ve done a few searches and reached out to a few people so we’ll see what happens. The key is to not use anyone else’s content due to copyright stuff. That shouldn’t be a problem since it will be all my content anyway.

More to come!

Cheers
Dave

I know you can count me in for a copy if you decide to publish one.

It seems the ones that sell on BaT or other sites have been passed around a lot. :frown: Me thinks dealers buy and sell these as I don't think if owned by a true enthusiast, it would be crossing the blocks so many times. This is the third time for this one. The red one at Mecum has had several "no-sales" and there have been a few others. Lots incorrect with that one from a concourse standpoint, but I'd be thrilled with it. Better than a homemade pile of parts built from who knows what!!! :blush:

I'll have an update next week on mine!:scholar::smile::laugh:

Cheers
Dave

A festabulous day today! "Let the wurd go fourth from this time and place, to Yenkonians and Lurkers alike: Mein 507R ist fertig!!!" Well, at least that's what Google translates it to be. So in English, MY 507R is DONE!!!!!:3gears:

A six and a half year journey is complete. Is it really ever complete? Don't answer that, since I still need to chrome the bumpers. This was no small endeavour emotionally, spiritually., and most importantly, financially. BMW stands for "Bring Money With" when you head in for service, and nothing about this car could have been further from that truth.

Things learned from the build: Metal shaping, metal de-shaping, the average price per pound of recycled scrap metal, and there is a weight limit for the trash on Thursday. I do know I'll never build another one. Although since taking inventory of leftover parts, I probably could seeing's how I bought multiples of things I forgot I had!

A round of "Thank a Yous" to all of you here. Everyone's encouragement through this endeavor has kept me going when the stumbling blocks were in front of me. Bringing the car to MCACN for you all to see was a highlight for me, and I'm sure a massive disappointment for Bob.:biggthumpup: More photos to come as I get ready for the last article for the BMW Classic Car Club's Spring edition magazine.

WOOHOO!!!!! Now what do I build next? :dunno::hmmm:

Cheers
Dave

Incredible build and was a pleasure watching the past several years. I am proud of what I have built and accomplished over the years but nothing compares to the skills of making one from scratch. Certainly a feather in your hat and a very large one at that.

Das ist gut!