Many of you have already seen this baby, or at least know I own it. I hope you guys will let me post it here, even though it isn't an 02, and I sold both my 02's to help fund it. If it helps my 02 karma, I am also restoring a 73 2002, and have a 72 tii lined up next.

Anyway, here she is in all her glory. It's an 81 323i, E21, right hand drive from the UK. I bought this car almost a year and a half ago, and have been plugging away on it ever since.


Notice the factory bronze tinted windows.


After a wash.


The wash helped, but she needed so much more. This car sat since the late 80's, with only 134k miles on her.


I decided to wash her in the harshest soap I could get.....SAND!



After MONTHS in the body shop, and hundreds of headaches, she FINALLY got a fresh coat of BMW 138 Zinnoberrot. The paint is an ICI single stage.




This is more or less where she sits now, while I struggle through a little case of project car burnout.







A few other items of note.

I started to get a little out of hand collecting wheels for this car. I sold the 4 13" BBS wheels, but I still have the 15x7's, and I'm also working on a set of barely used, NOS turbine wheels. One of the silver wheels has since been refinished in gold to match.


Suspension for the beast. Koni adjustables with H&R springs. I've also got urethane bushings, all new everything else, and an Alpina replica lower tie bar. Swaybars will be stock.


Other items of note are the bronzed windows, close ratio dog leg 5 speed, and the super clean, low mileage 2.3L Euro spec M20 for it. This car is going to be mostly stock, except wheels, tires suspension, and colour combo, although both interior and exterior colours are from newer BMW's. Only other modification is stainless brake lines. Interior will be something pretty special, but close to stock. Think S package Recaros, sewn as original, but in a natural tan material. The rest of the car is being rebuilt with all new window moulding, brand new bumpers, 3 new windows(rear quarters, and windshield), all new rubber except doors(still like new), new side moulding, new tail lights, new factory fasteners wherever they are visible, etc, etc.

I was hoping to have the car done this spring, but I am doubtful now. I'm feeling a bit burned out on it, so I've tucked it away for a little while, and am focusing on other projects, like my E28. Probably will be a late 2006, or 2007 coming out party. Goal is to have the nicest E21 on the planet, with no expense spared.

Al
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67 1600
77 630csi
81 323i
68 VW Bug
06 Volvo V50