Rebody One for the 507 builders

Pond

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 26, 2016
Points
144
Location
Spaldingski, Lincs
Model of Z
Z3 project and E89 Z4
Aspirational picture for the 507 gang.
Didn't know Elvis had a 507. "Thank you very much"

exl41p8is9pwy5fv1dt0.jpg
 

Duncodin

Zorg Guru (III)
Supporter
Joined
Sep 8, 2021
Points
139
Location
Pontrhydyrun - in Crow Valley
Model of Z
M44 FrankenZed
When elvis got it it was white. He painted it red coz, as story goes, girls in germany kept writing on it with lipstick.

He also binned the bmw motor and put in a ford or chevy or something.

Found many years later in a real state. Short video on YT of it being restored.
 

Dxbolton

Zorg Guru (II)
Joined
Jun 19, 2020
Points
114
Location
New Forest
Model of Z
2.8 auto
The chap who owned the Elvis 507 also had another one, he gifted the Elvis car to BMW museum provided they fully restored his other car, which they did. Sadly he passed away just before the cars were complete
 

DaveP

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 26, 2016
Points
128
Location
Reading
Model of Z
Z3 2.2 Kobra rebody (see pic)
and all the other colours ? we need a full list

#askingforafriend
 

Duncodin

Zorg Guru (III)
Supporter
Joined
Sep 8, 2021
Points
139
Location
Pontrhydyrun - in Crow Valley
Model of Z
M44 FrankenZed
and all the other colours ? we need a full list

#askingforafriend
No problem. Here you go.

Sorry. Not in order. Tsk. Germans eh? You'd think they'd be a bit more efficient



List with Known interior/leather colours.
Screenshot 2025-03-21 at 09.41.34.jpg


Unknown interior colours
Screenshot 2025-03-21 at 09.42.14.jpg



So. in first place #1 White, #2 Silvergrey, #3 Papyrus, #4Silverblue, #4Black

See bottom of above list. 'Grundiert'. Supplied just in primer. Wonder what colour they became?

and what colour is Papyrus?

Screenshot 2025-03-21 at 09.49.16.jpg


Screenshot 2025-03-21 at 09.50.16.jpg


254 cars in total

1 prototype 528
3 Preproduction
2 with special bodywork ? (Maybe just early designs?)
34 Series 1
214 Series 2

Where did they all go?

64 Germany
41 USA
34 Italy
33 France
26 Switzerland
13 Venezuela
8 Austria
..
..
..
4 UK
..
..
1 each to Denmark, Greece, Spain and a few others.
 
Last edited:

DaveP

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 26, 2016
Points
128
Location
Reading
Model of Z
Z3 2.2 Kobra rebody (see pic)
now that is a flipping comprehensive answer thank you !
 

Pond

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 26, 2016
Points
144
Location
Spaldingski, Lincs
Model of Z
Z3 project and E89 Z4
I didn't realise they were that rare TBH.
Were they limited production runs, or just too expensive?
 

DaveP

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 26, 2016
Points
128
Location
Reading
Model of Z
Z3 2.2 Kobra rebody (see pic)
So expensive that each was produced as a big loss I believe. Nearly took BMW under. If the video I saw about them is to be believed
 

Duncodin

Zorg Guru (III)
Supporter
Joined
Sep 8, 2021
Points
139
Location
Pontrhydyrun - in Crow Valley
Model of Z
M44 FrankenZed
I didn't realise they were that rare TBH.
Were they limited production runs, or just too expensive?
Long story. Short version is dealer in the usa said if bmw build it he could sell a squillion a month. But bmw made each one by hand so each one cost way too much so priced way too high. US dealer wanted bmw to make an assembly line and churn them out faster and cheaper but bm didn't believe he could sell that many so weren't prepared to invest in an assembly line so it staggered along and some people reckon almost busted bmw. Till bmw shelved it and concentrated on making a profit selling the bubble car unstead.
 

Pond

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 26, 2016
Points
144
Location
Spaldingski, Lincs
Model of Z
Z3 project and E89 Z4
Long story. Short version is dealer in the usa said if bmw build it he could sell a squillion a month. But bmw made each one by hand so each one cost way too much so priced way too high. US dealer wanted bmw to make an assembly line and churn them out faster and cheaper but bm didn't believe he could sell that many so weren't prepared to invest in an assembly line so it staggered along and some people reckon almost busted bmw. Till bmw shelved it and concentrated on making a profit selling the bubble car unstead.
Funny as that is a very similar story with Ferrari and the 250 California. Apparently a US dealer convinced Enzo to make a compact convertible of the 250GT for the Californian market and they were going to all make massive money and sell in their thousands. Only 57 SWBs were ever made. I think they were extremely expensive, being a one at a time production run, but history makes these limited-run cars worth mega bucks; whoever built them.

The yanks have a lot to answer for; and still do (maybe more so than ever). ;)
 
Top