My friends, the alchemists at Baume et Mercier are at it again. Brewing up something for this fall. Its directed at all of us die-hard racing enthusiasts. Last year, Baume & Mercier surprised and delighted us with the release of the Capeland Shelby Cobra collection. Created in partnership with Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc. in Las Vegas, the line was a complete success, so this year they are doubling down. Continue reading
Tag Archives: cars
Restoring Elvis Presley’s BMW 507 roadster
This article has been in the news a few places in the last couple of days. It is about my all time favorite car and a musician who is fairly swell in his own rite. Elvis Presley, the ring of Rock and Roll once owned this beautiful BMW 507 Roadster, it is about to be restored by the BMW factory in Germany, I re posted the article here for your reading and viewing pleasure
Elvis Presley’s BMW is getting the rock star treatment all over again. This rare BMW was the King’s personal ride while serving in the Army between 1958 and 1960.
BMW Classic, the automaker’s official restoration arm, is bringing the King’s 507 roadster back to showroom quality. The red roadster, one of just 254 built between 1955 and 1959, was actually Presley’s second 507, or by some accounts, the same car painted red after adoring women wrote their names and numbers all over the original white body in lipstick.
In either case, Presley was stationed in Germany in the late 1950s as a private in the U.S. Army, but aside from operating a tank and standing guard (where he was again mobbed by hundreds of German fans), the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was no ordinary GI. In between his many overseas girlfriends and ability to skirt Army rules as a celebrity, Presley bought one of the most expensive cars at that time (about $450,000 in today’s dollars). He spotted the 507 in a local dealer after the Porsche 550 Spyder, the other great sports car in which heartthrob actor James Dean famously died, wasn’t available.
For a $3,750 lease — for a used model raced by Hans Stuck — Elvis cruised around Germany in one of the most beautiful and rarest BMWs ever made until his Army tour was up in 1960. From there, the story gets murkier. The 507 was shipped to the U.S., except its original 150-horsepower V8 engine was swapped for a small-block Chevy somewhere in Alabama and was drag-raced. Later in 1968, an engineer named Jack Castor bought the car in Arizona and then let it sit in a warehouse for decades. Only recently has Castor shipped the car to BMW to let the experts restore Presley’s car.
Currently, the car is on display in its original condition at the factory BMW Museum through Aug. 10. Presley also bought a BMW Isetta — the funny microcar that had its single door up front — even before leaving for Germany. Discounting every other car Elvis bought in his lifetime, it was sure good to be the King with keys to a 507.
[Source: Road & Track via BMW Classic; Photos by BMW, Elvis Australia]
Top Ten Big & Small Screen Cars of my Generation
I always have fun with top ten lists. I think it is human nature to prioritize and categorize things. We all Like when things have their place. I am sure my readers have their top 5 songs or artists, their favorite watches, people they would be stuck on a desert island with. Well I was thinking the other day about all of the great cars I’ve seen in TV and movies, and what stuff inspired me growing up. Now there is no particular order, and not all of these were even made during my lifetime, but in some way on the screen had a big impact. I am giving away my age some here too, but its all in good fun. What great fodder for a top ten list huh? So here are my top ten- ish favorite cars of my generation, and every one of them is totally swell.
For $33.4 million, you can (almost) be Bond, James Bond | Hemmings Daily
1963 Aston Martin DB5, bearing the registration plate seen in Goldfinger. Photos courtesy Miami Auto Museum.
As a globe-trotting superspy, James Bond not only had a girl in every port, but a car and maybe a boat or aircraft in every exotic locale too. That makes for quite the collection, and one such assemblage of vehicles associated with Ian Fleming’s best-known character recently came up for grabs, with a few strings attached: The buyer must take delivery of all 59 items as a single lot, the non-negotiable price is 20 million British pounds ($33.4 million), and a license to kill is not included. Continue reading
Happy Birthday Aston Martin…100 years
The British car manufacturer and racing legend, Aston Martin turns 100 today. I have always loved Aston Martin. With their rich racing heritage, consistent styling, and hand-built quality, whats not to love? And what better day to write about this brand than their 10oth anniversary.
Skyfall
Well after much anticipation, and blogging I made it to the new bond film, Skyfall. It was everything that I expected from Bond, beautiful women, fast cars, great locations, and of course the villains. From the opening theme , Adele’s Skyfall, to the final…well I can’t tell you, it was action packed and entertaining. Warning, possible spoilers ahead.
How to be Swell 