I am new to the site here....great resource and hello to all. I have a '72 that I bought in 2001. I used it as a daily driver for about a year, and started acquiring parts. The body was pretty beat up with dents but had very little rust. The motor had low mileage on a rebuild. I did the radiator upgrade, got all the gauges and lights working and I totally fell in love with the car.
I couldn't handle a summer without a/c so I bought a new truck and my riviera blue 72 was on the backburner. Then I bought a house. I went about 3 years with it sitting in my driveway being exposed to the elements. Fortunately, it was California elements so not much rain....ha.
Anyways, I got a divorce and finally towed it over to my new pad....one parking spot in an underground parking lot. Wow....you should have seen the looks on the faces of my co-tenants when I had it towed over. The battery was dead, 3 of the tires were flat....two of the tires had sidewall damage and would not even take air.....and we literally "slid" the car about 100 feet into its new "home". I was thinking at this point "damn I need a garage"........the riviera blue paint was so oxidized it almost looked white....my landlord suggested I get a car cover for it because it was "degrading" his building.....wow that hurt.
Now, 2 months later I am moving into a new house with a garage!! The restoration shall begin!!! Saturday night I snuck out of the apartment into the underground parking structure....washed it...waxed it....it looked pretty damn cool....sunday I threw a battery in it....sunday afternoon it started up!!!....tonight...(wednesday) I drove it for about 20 minutes and not even a hint of running hot...a little rickety at first....but by the end of the 20 minutes she was beaming with pride. All I had to fix was a hose that came loose on the brake fluid reservoir and add 2 clamps....In the 20 minutes I drove her.......about 5 people honked their horns and gave the thumbs up!!!!!! Even my co-tenants said "cool you got it running"..
I am very thankful I can now get started on this project that I have back-burnered for so long......all I can say is "YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"!!!!!!
I'll keep updates throughout the project....
Kelly
Date: 6-20-07 11:31 From: Craig74tii in North Hollywood, CA Subject: Re: Yeah!!!!!!!!
Whooo Hooo. Another CA '02 back on the road!! Good luck with her. _________________ Craig74tii
72tii
74tiix2
78TA
Date: 6-21-07 04:20 From: mike in Beavercreek, OH Subject: Yep, that's how it starts...then pretty soon you'll be like
the rest of us--just a little (or more than a little) crazy over 2002s...
Welcome to the madness!
mike (crazy since 4 May 1969) _________________ '69 Nevada sunroof--"Wolfgang"--bought new
'73 Sahara sunroof-- "Ludwig"--mine since '78
'87 eta E30 coupe--"Johannes"
+ Fiat Topolini (Benito & Luigi), Renault 4CVs (Anatole, Lucky Pierre, Brigette)...
and Kermit, the Bugeye Sprite,
Date: 6-21-07 05:24 From: Paul7002 in Richmond, VA Subject: so she said "either me or that car" and you picked the car?
good choice. _________________ Paul in Richmond
'70 Chamonix
'95 CB750 Nighthawk
'05 Genuine Stella
Sold the boat
Date: 6-21-07 10:18 From: DavinSF in San Francisco, CA Subject: Rock on indeed! Great story. (nt)
(nt) _________________ Davin in SF
showymcshow at gmail dot com
'72 2002, M20 power
'76 2002, 24 Hours of LeMons racer
'71 Honda CB500K
I am new to the site here....great resource and hello to all. I have a '72 that I bought in 2001. I used it as a daily driver for about a year, and started acquiring parts. The body was pretty beat up with dents but had very little rust. The motor had low mileage on a rebuild. I did the radiator upgrade, got all the gauges and lights working and I totally fell in love with the car.
I couldn't handle a summer without a/c so I bought a new truck and my riviera blue 72 was on the backburner. Then I bought a house. I went about 3 years with it sitting in my driveway being exposed to the elements. Fortunately, it was California elements so not much rain....ha.
Anyways, I got a divorce and finally towed it over to my new pad....one parking spot in an underground parking lot. Wow....you should have seen the looks on the faces of my co-tenants when I had it towed over. The battery was dead, 3 of the tires were flat....two of the tires had sidewall damage and would not even take air.....and we literally "slid" the car about 100 feet into its new "home". I was thinking at this point "damn I need a garage"........the riviera blue paint was so oxidized it almost looked white....my landlord suggested I get a car cover for it because it was "degrading" his building.....wow that hurt.
Now, 2 months later I am moving into a new house with a garage!! The restoration shall begin!!! Saturday night I snuck out of the apartment into the underground parking structure....washed it...waxed it....it looked pretty damn cool....sunday I threw a battery in it....sunday afternoon it started up!!!....tonight...(wednesday) I drove it for about 20 minutes and not even a hint of running hot...a little rickety at first....but by the end of the 20 minutes she was beaming with pride. All I had to fix was a hose that came loose on the brake fluid reservoir and add 2 clamps....In the 20 minutes I drove her.......about 5 people honked their horns and gave the thumbs up!!!!!! Even my co-tenants said "cool you got it running"..
I am very thankful I can now get started on this project that I have back-burnered for so long......all I can say is "YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"!!!!!!
I'll keep updates throughout the project....
Kelly
Where are you located? Welcome to the site!! :) _________________
Rockon: I should've done like you did when I was younger. But, I honestly did not know if any '02's were still on the road. I had not seen any for many years. However, in early 2003, I was at work one (rare) slow night and happened to read the Feb. 2002 copy of BMW Magazine. Inside was an article about the "Bavaria Tour 2002 - 02 owners meet in Munich" & an article by Bob Roemer titled "2002 - Getting Cooler as it Ages." I saw pictures of '02 owners I would meet later on. My wife had let it be known that she wasn't totally opposed to my getting a sports car for myself. I was off to the races trying to find myself an '02 that was within my budget.
In late May I zeroed in on one in Athens, AL that sounded promising. I've had it for 4 years now and it's been an amazing trip and great fun. _________________ '75 Sahara: Dieter is undergoing a long overdue engine overhaul. Progress reports to follow... Expect Dieter sitings in late April if not sooner.
Thanks to all for your replies regarding my '02. I am from the Los Angeles area. I really like the reply that says......."so she said either me or the car and you picked the car?....good choice" ha that was classic. Anyways, I'll keep everyone up to date on this riviera blue 72. I have her named but her name is a little embarrassing....so we'll just call her "the riviera blue 72" for now..........