The BMW 507 Ultimate Build Thread!!!

[A12pilot]

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

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. But as this project has shown, that sure hasn't stopped me before!

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).















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.

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

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.....

Cheers
Dave