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Intro


VWJake

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When I was knee high to a grasshopper my Dad- Ralph Potter was "The" BMW mechanic in central IL. In fact, you had anything odd my Dad was the guy to go see. Ferraris, Alfas, BMWs, and assorted other vehicles were expertly cared for by my father. In the sleepy little town of Broadlands, IL my father had managed to acquire 12 BMWs behind the garage. 1600s, 1800s, and '02s were in his collection. As the story went all of these cars ran. Fit for the road... only some but they all ran. This was in the late 70's. All of those cars were sold/scrapped when we "moved into town" when gas prices and interest rates skyrocketed. All I can personally remember of that collection of cars was them being hauled out on a low boy stacked like cord wood. I don't remember when it showed up, but Dad brought home an Agave/Tobacco '73 sunroof '02 in the early 80's. That car served as my mother's daily driver for several years. My most vivid memories of the earlier years with that car included having to hold the doors shut in the winter because the latches froze open. The fire from depths of hell spot on my lower leg from the heater vent in the center console, and the sheepskin seat covers. 'Round about '87 my Mom was teaching my sister to drive on the way to our grandparents house. My sister didn't understand that cars don't steer well on gravel especially not over 30mph. The three of us left the embankment of the overpass flying through the air and crash landing just short of the bottom of the embankment then sliding through a farmers barbed wire fence. That was a long ride to Monticello- The three of us and the driver in a single cab tow truck. My Dad spent over 2yrs piecing that car back together. The car was pulled straight on a frame machine. It got a new nose, and fenders, new rockers, late model steelies, Eibach springs, Bilstein HDs and Sports, Big swaybars, Stahl header, new exhaust, a Weber 32/36, Cibie H4s, Hella 550s, power 320i mirrors, cocoa mats, and a host of fresh trim/seals. My Dad and I both loved that car.I eagerly awaited the arrival of every Roundel pouring through the pages dreaming of what I'd do to my own '02 some day. The '73 sat in the garage only driven occasionally until I turned 16.

Dads 73 02 small.jpg

About a year after I started driving it the green car met its demise. I was rear ended by a a guy in a full sized van. The accident report said he was admiring the car and didn't see the brake lights. He shoved me 5ft into the truck in front of me. I remember looking at the headliner as the seat laid out flat and then looking back out the windshield in time to see the hood wrinkle and buckle up in front of me.

After a year of scouring the want ads I stumbled onto a '71 1600 that had rear ended a MoDOT truck. With BFH, a birch tree, a few chains, and a drill I managed to pull the nose out far enough to replace the rad, fan, timing cover,  and lights.

My 71 1600 small.jpg

 

A twisty country road and dry rotted tires contributed to this 1600's final ride. The RF tire blew out in a left hander. The car slid into the ditch and struck the one tree that was jutting out of the tree line. The car pivoted sideways and rolled over onto its roof. I unlatched the seatbelt and fell to the ceiling... damn! Another one bites the dust.

 

In the decades that followed that last BMW I watched the prices of these little gems rise and rise. In the meantime I had lots of fun with VW GTIs, GLIs, and TDIs. All the while vowing to own another pocket rocket someday. My Dad passed away in 2013. I never got to fulfill my dream of replacing my Dad's '73. Time marched on.

 

The day that I had hoped for finally came this past Saturday. A few weeks ago I saw a CL for 2 '69 '02s and another ad for a 3rd car- a '71. Prices seemed reasonable. Thought I'd buy all three, build two, sell one, and keep one. Well the 2 were way rougher than the ad let on and the 3rd was gone in short order. Even though they were basically scrap I couldn't get the two '69s out of my head. After much back and forth I finally talked with the CFO. She reluctantly approved and I made an offer on the pair. A few days later and I made two trips to haul the cars home.

 

 

 

 

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