Elvis' BMW 507

[F34R]

On display then being restored! I love seeing barn finds and being saved for many years to come and be loved. The 507 is one of my favorites of all time, I got to see many in person at a few BMW vintage shows...even better looking in person! I find it a shame they are restoring it, kinda makes it feel less special from losing the age and wear of time. LOVE that it has the '68 Bama plate.

http://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/cars/elvis-s-bmw-507-lost-found-exhibition-comes-munich

[FunfGan]

Cool article and awesome pictures, always interesting to see how upscale/ luxury cars of that time period age.

[whodwho]

I haven't read that link yet but had read it supposedly had a V8 motor swamp and raced??

[TurboJake]

I haven't read that link yet but had read it supposedly had a V8 motor swamp and raced??

Maybe. But the ODO has 00000.something. maybe between .8 and .9? Hard to tell in the picture.

Dunno what to think about it.

[nyChris]

I haven't read that link yet but had read it supposedly had a V8 motor swamp and raced??

I don't know the story, but it does have v8 exhaust manifolds still attached.

[F34R]

I haven't read that link yet but had read it supposedly had a V8 motor swamp and raced??

I don't know the story, but it does have v8 exhaust manifolds still attached.

It came from factory with a v8, the car nearly sunk BMW...it is also the car that made them stand out and become noticed and respected in the states. There was a history of BMW I watched and it covered the 507 and the iconic status it gave BMW. Think of it like Bugatti did with the Veyron, risky and lost them TONS of money.

The Z series was loosely based on the 507's styling.

Added info: The 700 and 1500 are what helped save BMW after the 507 nearly put them under, I know this because the 700 is one of my dream cars :)

[flyboyx]

Maybe. But the ODO has 00000.something. maybe between .8 and .9? Hard to tell in the picture.

Dunno what to think about it.

those are stewart warner gages in a piece of mahogany plywood. looks to me the original dash cluster is long gone.

[TurboJake]

those are stewart warner gages in a piece of mahogany plywood. looks to me the original dash cluster is long gone.

Figured so much, but not familiar with them. So I didn't know.

[TimeMachinE30]

It will be restored at the classic center..

Wonders if they have natur floor mats for my vert.

[graveshaker]

I can see how the z cars were based on these. Pretty nice looking car.

[whodwho]

It came from factory with a v8, the car nearly sunk BMW...it is also the car that made them stand out and become noticed and respected in the states. There was a history of BMW I watched and it covered the 507 and the iconic status it gave BMW. Think of it like Bugatti did with the Veyron, risky and lost them TONS of money.

The Z series was loosely based on the 507's styling.

Added info: The 700 and 1500 are what helped save BMW after the 507 nearly put them under, I know this because the 700 is one of my dream cars :)

Sorry that was from my phone and lacked detail 8^(

I meant a engine swap (not swamp) with a non stock V8:

It was imported into the United States in 1960 and was bought by Alabama disc jockey Tommy Charles, who had it extensively modified, including having the engine replaced with a Chevrolet V8.The BMW 507 participated in local drag races and in 1968 was sold to an engineer from California named Jack Castor who wanted to restore it but it ended up spending decades in a warehouse.

[slammin.e28]

Elvis supposedly had the white car painted red because he got tired of finding women lipstick all over it.

Elvis supposedly didn't own the car, but was leasing it, and through a translation error though it was his entirely.

Seems 99% of info revolving around Elvis' 507 is speculation.

[whodwho]

Not sure on the lease it sounded like it wasn't new:

"Presley’s car, no. 70079, had earlier been used as a press demonstrator by BMW and raced by Hans Stuck. Before Elvis took it over the engine was rebuilt and a new transmission was installed. The original white paint was also replaced with a Porsche Red color."

And supposedly bought another one to give away:

"Elvis reportedly gave another 507, no. 70192, to Ursula Andress."

[freeride53]

Pretty cool!

[2mAn]

The Chevy V8 makes sense. I am not 100% sure but they do look like 350 exhaust manifolds. It also has a service tag from a Chevy dealership