By Jeff Glucker
Bill Caswell is a mad man. He’s our kind of mad man though, because his constantly firing brain is always scheming and planning vehicular adventure. His latest bit of insanity could be excellent, if he pulls it off. Caswell is taking a BMW 750 and turning it into a two-door shooting brake style machine.
This would be the glorious E38-era 7 Series. And under the hood is the M73 5.4-liter V12 engine. That’s the part of this car that worries Bill the least. What has him vexed at the moment is how he’s going to deal with the muffin top on his 750SWB. You can see what I mean if you click play on the video above. This is Part 5 in the series, so if you’re keen to follow along start back and the beginning and catch on up.
Bill sent over a few snaps of this insane work in progress.
As you can see, the lines could be glorious. But we’re not sure how he’s going to handle all that open air between the A Pillars and what have become the B Pillars. We’ll let Bill work that out though, as he’s got a ways to go on this one.
Or knowing Bill, he’ll call us in a week and it will miraculously be done. Don’t count out the dude who ran a WRC event on a wing, a prayer, and the back of a beat-up BMW 3 Series rally pig.
Check out the whole series on Bill’s channel.
This thing will give the grand prix aero coupe a run for its money in “least usable trunk opening”. Kidding aside this project is great, and I look forward to progress.
I totally do not get this project. While I admire his fabrication skills, wouldn’t it be a hell of a lot easier to just buy an E36 318ti and swap in an engine?
https://blog.consumerguide.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/CA1016CHP-e1490634336573.jpg
Just think of it as a supersized 318ti. Besides, the fun is in the creation.
Maybe, but how many pageviews would that bring?
https://preview.redd.it/1mp45cypdr331.jpg?overlay-align=bottom,left&crop=958:480,smart&overlay-height=15p&overlay=%2Fwatermark%2Ft5_2spqb.png%3Fs%3D41a750ce94c84c3c7e6b8f8584496b0ed2817986&width=958&height=480&auto=webp&s=626824c521a62722630e1452284f90c36050e9b4
I can see Lokki’s point, but holy $#!+ this is an awesome project!
Ultra-super-mega-hyper suicide doors.
I hope he has a plan for the door glass, I can forsee the purchase of another set of front doors though
I would have (for simplicity and structural integrity) kept the short doors and pillar, and just welded in whatever was left of the rears. It probably wouldn’t have looked nearly as cool, though.
I would have (for simplicity and structural integrity) kept the short doors and pillar, and just welded in whatever was left of the rears. It probably wouldn’t have looked nearly as cool, though.
Pillarless door glass that only winds half-way down isn’t cool either.
The door edge would follow a very un-coupe like line, but short sedan doors don’t look terrible:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48593855977_0a85cdd365_z.jpg
Lexan with reeeally long slider openings https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/58c1bf331c6f83a1716a359f2685f459fba65c53294fa11317115e2b33a6f5ff.jpg
That thought did pass through my mind
Awesome concept, I vote for a 2000 Touring style rear and greenhouse
https://assets.hemmings.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//2014/02/1973BMW2000Tii_02_1200.jpg
I’m a longtime fan of the 2002, but still have yet to see one of the Tourings in person.
I probably prefer the normal sedan, it is what you think of when you think 2002 and the Touring is less distinctive.
I can only compare photos, but I agree. And I prefer the square-taillight models over the roundies.
I can only compare photos, but I agree. And I prefer the square-taillight models over the roundies.
I was going to write the cliched “when I grow up I want to be like Caswell, making great stories and building cool stuff.”
But then I realize that really the age gap between he and I isn’t that great. Furthermore my last few projects have been pretty successful (turbo Toyota tercel that runs 100mph in the quarter/turbo ls swapped 94 gm truck/some vw stuff). So I think the thing I’m missing is participating in Motorsports.
If he doesn’t badge it 750ti I shall be disappointed.