In memory of "The King" - BMW 507 Elvis Presley

[CrazyCrank]

When I started working on this rare old REVELL 1:24 kit, excited by the press articles and videos of the restoration of Elvis Presley's BMW 507 by BMW between 2014 and 2016, I hoped to make a faithful reproduction and, to be honest, I didn't know that I was embarking on a real adventure, if not dangerous, at least full of surprises, both good and bad, that would test my nerves and patience to the limit!

And this saga lasted almost 2 years, because real life isn't just about modelling.

In total, I spent more than 600 hours on this model, not only studying the 'official' documents, designing, drastically modifying and assembling the body, but also designing and 3D printing the many parts that were added or modified.

The REVELL kit contained only 167 parts including decals; my model now has more than 500 parts and barely 30% of the original parts remain.

You can't imagine the emotion I felt when I finished the model by fitting the canopy.

I think it was surprisingly as intense as when my first granddaughter was born almost 7 years ago!

I dedicate this model to the memory of the King and all his admirers.

Here is a selection of photos. Sorry, but the bodywork is not as clean as I would have liked. I was so afraid of damaging it when cleaning it that I didn't do much.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

And now a little video:

 

I hope you enjoy this model as much as I enjoyed to building it 

 

Edited October 27, 2024 by CrazyCrank

[XYHARRY]

Very impressive build there Thierry, really well done and a fine tribute to the King.

Cheers, 

David. ??

[CrazyCrank]

4 hours ago, XYHARRY said:

Very impressive build there Thierry, really well done and a fine tribute to the King.

Cheers, 

David. ??

Thanks a lot, David ?

[Jim B]

Beautiful BMW.  Fantastic work.

[CrazyCrank]

28 minutes ago, Jim B said:

Beautiful BMW.  Fantastic work.

Thank you so much, Jim ?

[PappyD340]

Very nice BMW

[Hard_2_Handle_454]

Very Nice!  I've been wanting to get a 2nd one, but they're very hard to come by now.  I was lucky to find my first one at a good price.

[CrazyCrank]

You were very lucky indeed!

I needed two kits to make this model, due to the drastic plastic surgery the bodies have undergone, and a third would have been welcome

 

[CrazyCrank]

19 minutes ago, Hard_2_Handle_454 said:

Very Nice!  I've been wanting to get a 2nd one, but they're very hard to come by now.  I was lucky to find my first one at a good price.

You were very lucky indeed!

I needed two kits to make this model, due to the drastic plastic surgery the bodies have undergone, and a third would have been welcome

[karbuildr]

Beautiful build, you’re to be commended for sticking with it and investing so much time. Well done.

[CrazyCrank]

 Thank you so much guys for your kind praises ?

[slusher]

Absolutely Stunning!

[Greasefinger]

As previous members have said, absolutely great micro-engineering! Have you by any chance seen the real thing in the BMW museum in Munich? I had an opportunity to visit the museum last summer and as I was following your thread in another forum I of course had this in mind when visiting. 

 

 

Edited October 30, 2024 by Greasefinger

[Kah puts]

Primo work on this build ??

[beeRS]

Truly a masterpiece. I followed the build thread with interest. It’s great to see it finished. The result was well worth all the hard work. 

[Roger U]

Beautiful model. Nice clean work.

[CrazyCrank]

15 hours ago, Greasefinger said:

As previous members have said, absolutely great micro-engineering! Have you by any chance seen the real thing in the BMW museum in Munich? I had an opportunity to visit the museum last summer and as I was following your thread in another forum I of course had this in mind when wisiting. 

 

 

You were very lucky to have this opportunity.

I've planned to visit the BMW museum in Munich and the Mercedes-Benz's pointe in Stuttgart/

Thank you very much for your huge praise ?

[CrazyCrank]

On 10/29/2024 at 5:54 AM, slusher said:

Absolutely Stunning!

 

5 hours ago, Kah puts said:

Primo work on this build ??

 

47 minutes ago, beeRS said:

Truly a masterpiece. I followed the build thread with interest. It’s great to see it finished. The result was well worth all the hard work. 

 

40 minutes ago, Roger U said:

Beautiful model. Nice clean work.

 

Thank you guys for your great comments.

I started a build thread on this forum, but have been too lazy to continue!

I'll try to complete it ...

[BK9300]

Truly masterful work - a pleasure to see it come all that way, from a basic kit, to its final, grand completion - amazing work!

[Rattlecan Dan]

Great attention to detail. Really nice build.

[DoctorLarry]

Very nice and clean. I love the engineering that went into opening doors, trunk and hood. At first glance you would think it was the real car. Excellent!

[CrazyCrank]

23 hours ago, BK9300 said:

Truly masterful work - a pleasure to see it come all that way, from a basic kit, to its final, grand completion - amazing work!

Thank you for this great praise ?

 

17 hours ago, Rattlecan Dan said:

Great attention to detail. Really nice build.

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoy it

4 hours ago, DoctorLarry said:

Very nice and clean. I love the engineering that went into opening doors, trunk and hood. At first glance you would think it was the real car. Excellent!

Thank you very much ? The fuel filler flap over is also opening, and, much more, the sun visors are hinged and freely moveable

 

[drodg]

Beautiful masterpiece, congratulations.  

[CrazyCrank]

32 minutes ago, drodg said:

Beautiful masterpiece, congratulations.  

Thank you for your kind words ?

[CrazyCrank]

In fact, as it is in the first post of this thread, she's not finished ?

Indeed, I've added the little detail that makes THE difference:

You should know that when The King finished his military service in Germany, he brought his car back with him to America.

He was already famous and his female admirers regularly left lipstick marks on the pearl-white bodywork of his BMW as they kissed it fanatically.
So much so that, fed up, he had it repainted red! !

A model-maker friend of mine was able to produce 1:24 scale decals on his dedicated printer, based on a ‘lipstick kiss’ design I provided him with, and,  because I thought it"s funny, I've affixed several of these decals to the bodywork and windscreen here and there, as a nod to the history of The King and this incredible car.

Let' see below some pics:

   

 

   

 

   

 

Enjoy