The 507 Incident

"Jack Does Cars" (jackdoescars)
07/10/2015 at 17:17 • Filed to: BMW 507

I honestly was not expecting to see this car. Honestly, I do not think anybody, anywhere, at any time, is ready to see this car. It is just so... perfect. The car in question? A 1957 BMW 507.

My mother and I were driving from lunch in downtown Raleigh, to a thrift shop in Cary. Unlike Macklemore, I am not ever really excited for thrift shops ever. They don’t really interest me, and I kind of find them a waste of my time. But on the way to this particular thrift shop is possibly the best car dealership in all of the Raleigh area.

The dealer is called European Performance, and you know a dealer is good when they have a 1973 911 Carrera RS Tribute (based off a 1987 930), a 1994 964 RS America (my personal favorite 911 ever), a 964 Turbo, a 2007 Ferrari 612, a 1971 Mercedes 280SL, and many other interesting vehicles, in their inventory. But those cars have nothing on the vehicles they have restored.

Currently, they are about to restore a Series I Iso Grifo. They have also done a few 356’s, they did that Carrera RS tribute, and the Ingram Porsche 959. In my personal opinion, though, that does not really have anything on their last creation: a 1957 BMW 507.

I actually went into the dealer to check out the RS America. It is my favorite 911, after all, and I had never seen one in my entire life. So we turn around, and go back. It was worth it. It was so worth it.

This car actually has a funny story. It was literally picked up by the owner this morning (as in today, July 10, 2015), and was being driven back to Durham, where the owner lives. Well he made a mistake. He ran out of gas on I-40, a few miles from where he lives. So a tow truck was sent out there to retrieve it, and bring it back to European Performance. It had only been driven 80km since it was restored.

I was talking to a wonderful gentleman who works there, called Ryan, about a V8 swapped Volvo 240 for sale in Durham, NC, last year. And then it arrived. Ryan was mid-sentence about the wicked acceleration of the 240, when I had to interrupt him and ask the question, “Wait is that a BMW 507?” He replied with, “Umm...yeah, so this Volvo...”

Honestly, I kind of stopped listening to him about the Volvo and just stared at the 507. It was the best looking car I had ever seen in my entire life. The color combination was perfect, and the proportions were just right.The color was a grey, but not like a, “my wife and entire family hates me, so I leased this automatic 328i to make them happy,” grey, but rather a luxurious grey. Something that was a step above the rest. Something that every other car should be ashamed about.

And then I learned the cost. $3,000,000. Three million American dollars. Wow. The original luggage set (which I didn’t get a picture of) was worth $80,000 in itself. I am at a loss of words to describe this car. It was too amazing and incredible for me to handle. I had never seen anything like it before. The engine bay in this car was the cleanest engine bay probably in the known universe. I would feel safe eating off of it.

The techs working on the car splashed a few gallons of fuel in the tank, attached a jump box to the battery, and fired it up. The noise. Oh my, the noise. It was intoxicating. In a way, it makes me wonder why Elvis swapped 3.2 liter, 150 horsepower V8 with the engine out with a Chevrolet.

Like I have said before, the 1957 BMW 507 is the best looking car that I have ever seen in my life. I am simply honored to be in the presence of this great automobile. I would like all 253 examples produced in my possession.

DISCUSSION (65)

McMike > Jack Does Cars
07/10/2015 at 17:23

Kinja'd!!!

Then there’s that guy who didn’t get the “bring your interesting car today” memo

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Jack Does Cars
07/10/2015 at 17:28

All those amazing Porsches and other exotic metal and then that arrives.

Swoon indeed.

*swoons*

wizkashifa > Jack Does Cars
07/10/2015 at 17:29

Did you see this today?

*sprints outs the door to Euro Perfomance*

Also, yay more Raleigh Opponauts.

Takuro Spirit > Jack Does Cars
07/10/2015 at 17:31

Drops 3 mil on a car and can’t put gas in?

Jack Does Cars > McMike
07/10/2015 at 17:31

FOR SHAME, OPTIMA GUY

Jack Does Cars > wizkashifa
07/10/2015 at 17:32

I saw this today. Like three hours ago. I’m still feeling a bit funny.

Jack Does Cars > wizkashifa
07/10/2015 at 17:32

And yeah, there’s like 10 or so Raleigh Opponauts.

Jack Does Cars > Takuro Spirit
07/10/2015 at 17:33

Rich people don’t make sense.

WiscoProud > Jack Does Cars
07/10/2015 at 17:33

That is simply gorgeous. I admit, I had not heard of this before your initial post. As a lover of vintage BMW, I had typically stopped at the 2002. I feel ashamed for not knowing about this.

Jack Does Cars > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
07/10/2015 at 17:33

2 Swoon 2 Furious

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Jack Does Cars
07/10/2015 at 17:37

Nice car, but $3 million? I say crack pipe.

I can appreciate something that has a ton of history, and something that is especially unique and rare. But at that price? That’s... insane.

Jack Does Cars > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/10/2015 at 17:38

It’s not even the most expensive 507 sold.

Jack Does Cars > WiscoProud
07/10/2015 at 17:39

This is the vintage BMW. And it’s so sexy.

valis86 > Jack Does Cars
07/10/2015 at 17:39

What a fantastic write-up. The best compliment I can give is your clear adoration does not in the least detract from the fantastic, concise prose. Thanks for this.

Jack Does Cars > valis86
07/10/2015 at 17:42

Thank you for the kind words.

Tohru > Jack Does Cars
07/10/2015 at 17:43

Kinja'd!!!

RallyWrench > Jack Does Cars
07/10/2015 at 17:44

Fantastic. My boss owns a white ‘93 RSA. I’ll try to remember to get some pics of it next time he drives it in.

Jack Does Cars > Tohru
07/10/2015 at 17:45

That is a BMW 507. I like those.

Jack Does Cars > RallyWrench
07/10/2015 at 17:45

BEST 911 HNNNNGGGGG

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/10/2015 at 17:46

No more insane than classic Ferrari pricing. Only 252 total production, 202 survive apparently. I say NP all day.

Tohru > Jack Does Cars
07/10/2015 at 17:46

It’s been monogrilled.

Jack Does Cars > Tohru
07/10/2015 at 17:48

I see that. I’m not sure if I am supposed to like it.

Tohru > Jack Does Cars
07/10/2015 at 17:56

I photoshopped it years ago. So it wasn’t done to specifically offend you, it was done to poke fun at the stupid BMW grilles.

Now if I won the lottery and did it to one in real life...

Jack Does Cars > Tohru
07/10/2015 at 18:07

You would be persecuted by every BMW purist in the world. Still a nifty idea.

Slave2anMG > Jack Does Cars
07/10/2015 at 20:17

That shop always has the neatest, craziest stuff. Always. And a couple of miles farther along Madsen Motors has had a 300SD there for yonks...

Jack Does Cars > Slave2anMG
07/10/2015 at 20:33

Import Performance, right across the street, has a W123 300D

904 GTS > Jack Does Cars
07/10/2015 at 21:06

What was the price of that one (when and where sold), if I may ask?

Jack Does Cars > 904 GTS
07/10/2015 at 21:28

According to what the dealer man told me, Scottsdale, $3.25 million

Herr Quattro - Has a 4-Motion > Tohru
07/10/2015 at 21:54

I figured out what I don't like about the 507.

Tohru > Herr Quattro - Has a 4-Motion
07/10/2015 at 22:57

The grille?

Herr Quattro - Has a 4-Motion > Tohru
07/10/2015 at 23:15

Yep. and the ride height. It seems way to high.

Leadbull > Tohru
07/10/2015 at 23:27

Movin’ up in the world, huh?

904 GTS > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/11/2015 at 00:16

Kinja'd!!!

Makes me wonder what my friend’s 507 that BEAT BMW factory Klassik restoration, is worth nowadays... Has equally PREFECT hardtop as well.

904 GTS > Jack Does Cars
07/11/2015 at 00:20

Those pictures above were intended for you... Why someone else (BaconSandwich is tasty) got them, perhaps appreciated as well, I trust, is beyond me...

904 GTS > Jack Does Cars
07/11/2015 at 00:23

Will try to re-send photos when no longer at 33,000 feet...

904 GTS > Jack Does Cars
07/11/2015 at 00:35

Currious about your mention about European Performance doing Bob Ingram’s 959 restoration. Isn’t it odd that Bob and his son Cam would farm out their 959 when their highly respected PORSCHE restoration shop, The Road Scholars ( http://www.road-scholars.com/ ), does such an impecable work on P cars? Does not make sense, does it?

Jack Does Cars > 904 GTS
07/11/2015 at 00:59

According to what I've heard, the 959 was completed before Road Scholars was opened.

904 GTS > Jack Does Cars
07/11/2015 at 01:00

Those cars you’ve mentioned, are they for sale? The RS Am, for example, or are they customer’s cars being serviced? Found European Performance web site but there is NO mention of any inventory. That’s the reason I ask...

Jack Does Cars > 904 GTS
07/11/2015 at 01:00

That blue is surprisingly very good looking

904 GTS > Jack Does Cars
07/11/2015 at 01:12

Thank you

904 GTS > Jack Does Cars
07/11/2015 at 01:17

It’s the original color, quite obviously, as displayed at Paris Auto Salon when introduced.

904 GTS > 904 GTS
07/11/2015 at 03:04

www.motorcarinvestments.com has the same address. Pictures you’ve posted are from that showroom. Most likely the chap mentioned on one of the pages of the mci business leases a space from European Performance as those guys appear to be more into mechanical end of the business.

Of a few P cars listed for sale on the mci web site, the RS Am is not among them.

Jack Does Cars > 904 GTS
07/11/2015 at 10:07

They got the RS Am a few days ago, and are prepping it for sale.

904 GTS > Jack Does Cars
07/11/2015 at 12:18

Thanks for the info. The 964 RS is a nice driver indeed.

trmoore09 > Jack Does Cars
07/28/2015 at 14:20

European Performance has/had a 507? Dammit, I missed it. I usually make my way over there monthly to see what they have. I used to live at Wolf Creek, so I passed it daily.

Jack Does Cars > trmoore09
07/28/2015 at 15:22

They did. They restored it for some trust-fund baby in Durham. I live near Fuquay, and whenever I’m near the fairgrounds, I have to stop by.

trmoore09 > Jack Does Cars
07/28/2015 at 15:37

That’s awesome. I live in Southwest Raleigh.

Jack Does Cars > trmoore09
07/28/2015 at 16:08

Ah cool! You should come out to the next NC Oppo meet up.

trmoore09 > Jack Does Cars
07/28/2015 at 16:45

I will! I was going to come to the last one, but I think I was out of town.

Spridget > Jack Does Cars
05/01/2016 at 01:03

I know this post is close to a billion internet years old, but the guy who owns this also owns this car which I believe you’re familiar with:

Kinja'd!!!

Jack Does Cars > Spridget
05/01/2016 at 07:27

Oh my. Yes. Very yes. Doesn’t he live in Durham?

Spridget > Jack Does Cars
05/01/2016 at 12:08

Yep; he’s got a bunch of Porsches, including a Singer, 918, and a 959 which I’ve seen street parked in Hillsborough. He posts them all on his Instagram, which is @TimeToDrive5

Jack Does Cars > Spridget
05/01/2016 at 14:58

This is the guy who had the Huayra yesterday.

Spridget > Jack Does Cars
05/01/2016 at 15:23

Yep! And I think his silver 356 was in the “Porsche by Design” exhibit at the art museum in Raleigh a couple of years ago.

Jack Does Cars > Spridget
05/01/2016 at 16:01

I was there opening night, and I went three other times. Porsche by Design was probably the best thing the NCMA has ever put on.

Spridget > Jack Does Cars
05/01/2016 at 16:18

Don’t speak too soon: http://ncartmuseum.org/exhibitions/vi…

Jack Does Cars > Spridget
05/01/2016 at 16:21

I saw this advertised yesterday. Absolutely stunning. What did you think of the best in show?

Spridget > Jack Does Cars
05/01/2016 at 23:33

While the winner wasn’t undeserving, I personally would have chosen the Masersti A6G Zagato. The car was a complete knockout, and was in flawless condition too. After seeing in it the flesh, I have to say it’s the best looking car I’ve ever seen, and there was a Miura no more than 10 feet away from it.

Jack Does Cars > Spridget
05/02/2016 at 06:41

I agree, and that Mercedes 600 Pullman was spectacular. The owner let me sit in it.

Also, the guy driving the 300SL Gullwing with the torn sears actually drove it back to Charlotte.

Spridget > Jack Does Cars
05/03/2016 at 16:37

Now that guy has some balls. Putting a $1.5 million dollar car at risk so it can do what it’s supposed to do is the most jalop thing possible.

Jack Does Cars > Spridget
05/03/2016 at 16:58

He won some trophy Pinehurst

Spridget > Jack Does Cars
05/03/2016 at 20:28

Yeah, I heard. Somethings better than nothing I guess.

Jack Does Cars > Spridget
05/03/2016 at 22:18

He said that is grandfather bought it new in 1955, got it delivered by air cargo from Germany to Charlotte in 1956, and it’s been handed down ever since. Completely original condition, too. He had that, “old money North Carolina,” vibe to him.

Spridget > Jack Does Cars
05/04/2016 at 00:11

You know, despite what people say, there’s nothing wrong with old money. Wayyyyy classier than new money.

I didn’t talk to guy, but I saw him when he drove up to get his award. He seemed like the kind of guy who wen to Pinehurst multiple times a year and had a beach house on Bald Head Island. Still, I can’t say I’d do anything differently if I had that kind of money.

Jack Does Cars > Spridget
05/04/2016 at 06:26

True, and best of all he was nice to talk to.