The BMW 507 Ultimate Build Thread!!!

[cook_dw]

[A12pilot]

Ha! I set myself up for that one, and I realized that after I typed it!

So moving onto the back end with fresh measurements from my visit. I was only about a half inch off on my initial tail panel layout with regards to taillight placement. I'd say that's pretty good seeing how all my measurements are based off a 1/18th scale model and a ruler. The thing is, these were all built by hand so no two are identical, but the placement of the tail lights is based off a buck so that distance is relatively similar among all the cars. Still, I wanted to make sure things up. The lights are tilted a little and follow a body relief line and also follow the contour of the panel. So lots of measurements before I start hammering panels.



After an exhaustive 2yr casual search, I finally found the wheels I've been looking for! The factory wheels are 16x4.5 and the tires are 16x6.0. I found the correct Michelin X R185 tires, but the wheels always escaped me. There were there styles of wheels that I've seen on 507s other than the show car which had full caps but never offered: 10 hole steel, 4 slot steel, and Rudge knock off. I wanted the 10 hole style and these are just about as identical as I could get. They're Jeep wheels (M151 Mutt), 16x4.5, and 10 hole with a convex style center section. Woohoo! I'll modify the holes a tad too mimic the gumdrop shape of the 507s a little better, but (enter Survivor's song) the search is over! Man, Google must think I'm nuts with my searches..."10 hole Steelie....Steel wheel 16".... Factory 16x4.5 steel... Big Boobed Brunette... Oh, wait, how did that get in there?!




Anywho....BMW butt to follow!

Cheers
Dave

[Crush]

I’m trying to figure out when you have time to go to the gym or go golfing? Ha!
Great work and very impressive… again!
Bary

[A12pilot]

Thanks Bary. Good news is I stink at golf, and it snowed here today but before that happened I got my side garage bay done on my mini-MCACN workshop! Yes, SuperDave's Vintage Coachworks, Restoration, Fabrication, Pet Rescue, Barn Builders and Home Remodeling, Inc., is almost ready for business!



So last couple weeks I spent on the rear. More fun things on the front, but the rear isn't without it's charm! As you can see by the initial tape measurements, everything needed to be equal on both sides. I did this on the front but have to do it again once I connect the fenders to the fascia and cowl. Like my stock buying motto of buy high and sell low, I measure once and cut twice! I'm getting the hang of panel forming so I think the next body I make out of Aluminum will be way better. We'll see. I hope my buck stands up to the abuse. Oh and speaking of that, two crucial errors on my initial buck sculpture: trunk relief line and lower rear quarters/tail panel transition wasn't correct. But that's the advantage of visiting the real deal and getting measurements! Easy fixes and the buck is more accurate as a result.






All the welds we're completed then ground smooth. I used USC's All Metal to seal up the welds. I use this mainly anywhere lead would have been originally used. Works great! Final body work to follow and one will note that the rear quarters aren't complete yet. No wheel lip or lower edge. If I did that I couldn't remove the entire section as it would be locked on the buck. That's why I didn't join the fenders to the fascia.




So right now, the only panels left are the cowl (just need to make a new one... That one on there was made by a third grader!), doors, hood and trunk. I want to wait until I mount the body on the frame before I start making those parts. The trunk and hood need frames and the door skins need an inner structure so I'll wait on those for now. Up next will be priming, then I'll start into the frame! Woohoo! Disaster is sure to entertain all!

Drivetrain:. Update to follow on this, but after several meetings with higher ends builders, I'm leaning on BMW V8 power to keep it all BMW.

More to come ...

Cheers
Dave

[A12pilot]

I printed a couple parts recently, one is posted in the previous post and that's the trunk bezel. The other is the dash gauge pod. The dash itself is a fiberglass replica molded of a real dash, now with the gauge pod, I've got the entire dash. The steering wheel is being printed as we speak!






Really impressed with the technology. Amazing stuff! Now, if I could just print another me!!

Cheers
Dave

[TimG]

Wow, that's amazing. The welds almost disappear.

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

So in the future you could print out a 507?

I want one!!

Ryan W31

[Xplantdad]

Very very cool Super Dave!

[A12pilot]

Oh, I’m sure someone has already done that, Ryan. And truth be known, for movie sets, entire cars have been laser zapped out of foam for background props!

But I can tell you based on what I’ve paid so far in parts printing, making a whole car would be beyond cost effective!

Plus, my thread would only be two pages long and the car would be done. I mean…where’s the fun in that?!

Cheers
Dave

[TimG]

You can't be in Texas with all that snow, it's only warm and sunny here.