DIY Baur Cabrio Targa? Is It Doable?

[tomscat1]

I was contacted recently by a fella who has a special project in mind.

He has the Baur Cabrio Targa top section above.

And he has this shell below.

He would like to combine those two and convert the coupe into a Baur Cabrio Targa.

Has anyone here done that?

Any advice, pros, cons, or otherwise? He has not totally committed to it yet, and he is interested in hearing input on the project, particularly any tips on how this can be done.

Your thoughts, ideas and feedback are most welcome!

I could only offer him the following, which is probably not much help!

http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2012/06/build-your-own-baur.html

[AndyS]

Why not?

[1972_Targa]

Tom, I think it's very possible, but I personally wouldn't recommend it. First of all, it won't be a Baur Targa, it'll be a targa-topped 2002, because it wasn't built by Baur (anymore than sticking a bunch of tii parts on the car will make it a tii). That said, a lot of Targa-specific parts are going to be really hard to come by. Meaning $$$ if even available. If it were me, I'd look for a Baur Targa worthy of restoration (with all the hard-to-come-by parts already there) and go that route. IMHO...

[c.d.iesel]

forgetabout-it for reasons already given

put this on German Ebay and make big bucks

sending it back to where it was born

Somebody needs that section for

a huge restoration project.

[Kpeters]

Possible? Yes. Cool? Yes.

Expensive? Yes. Not an original Baur? Yes.

[stone02]

Hi,

the glass for the doors cost me over $2k alone.

almost every part is available but at a huge cost.

find a complete one that needs love and restore

it instead. i know of one car that was in MA. that

was to be moved over to a solid body but i never

heard the outcome. just in case the owner want's

to sell send him my info i could use most of that

roof line to repair mine.

good luck

stone

chris in philadelphia, with the white targa

[tomscat1]

Tom, I think it's very possible, but I personally wouldn't recommend it. First of all, it won't be a Baur Targa, it'll be a targa-topped 2002, because it wasn't built by Baur (anymore than sticking a bunch of tii parts on the car will make it a tii). That said, a lot of Targa-specific parts are going to be really hard to come by. Meaning $$$ if even available. If it were me, I'd look for a Baur Targa worthy of restoration (with all the hard-to-come-by parts already there) and go that route. IMHO...

I agree with you, Paul, and thank you for your thoughts. That is essentially what I said in the 'Build Your Own Baur" Baurspotting post. I am basically a purist when it comes to things like this.

That being said, I do love to see the things that ambitious, creative, talented folks can produce when they put their energy and talents to the task. I do not know this gentleman personally, but my sense is that he is a young man with enthusiasm to take on the challenge. I applaud and encourage that enthusiasm, and stand ready to assist him in some way if I can.

He got the Baur top section from his dad, btw, who has had it for some 20 years. His dad planned to do this project, but never got around to it. So, there is a little more to this story than we first knew. I think he is working on this with his brother.

The original Baur cabrio itself is long gone, except for the top, and the 2002 shell has no drive train. If it works out, this is a Phoenix.... up from the ashes.

And it won't be a Baur, that's true.... but it WILL be his own one-off Baur Targa-like creation. And if it works, that is not a bad accomplishment. Even if it doesn't work.... what a great experiment, .... and experience..... and what a great story!

Did the Baur Cabrio Targa have any structural reinforcement? Could that top Baur piece that he has just be welded onto the blue chassis in its entirety.... once the blue chassis has been properly cut? Or is that just too simple?

[1972_Targa]

Tom, biggest point of structural reinforcement is in the rocker panels (and the car still flexes quite a bit). Also, the Targa windshield is at a more severe angle, so that will have to be acquired.

I'm all for spirited projects, but unless this guy just won the lottery or is gifted as hand tooling parts, I'd flee the scene on this one. Getting the top fitted and welded to the body is the easy part. Coming up with rare expensive/nonexistent parts is where it gets difficult...

[tomscat1]

Tom, biggest point of structural reinforcement is in the rocker panels (and the car still flexes quite a bit). Also, the Targa windshield is at a more severe angle, so that will have to be acquired.

I'm all for spirited projects, but unless this guy just won the lottery or is gifted as hand tooling parts, I'd flee the scene on this one. Getting the top fitted and welded to the body is the easy part. Coming up with rare expensive/nonexistent parts is where it gets difficult...

Paul, much obliged for your wise input. I will pass this along to him.... and I will actually invite him to join us here. This is all valuable stuff for him to hear. Thank you.

[tomscat1]

Alert Baurspotter Scott S. sent me this link tonight from back in 2009.

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/...opic/t,382181/

The person who posted the above is from Colorado..... as is the person contemplating doing the project that is the subject of this thread!

Coincidence?

This is either the same car in both threads, or we have an extraordinary coincidence of TWO 2002 Baur top projects in the same state!!

Which is it? Great story either way!

Small Baur World Strikes Again?

Thank you for the link, Scott!

[Pigpen]

Contact Ben at La Jolla Independent, he had a Baur for sale last fall, its a real car and was still there last Friday. Its a shell that needs restoration. With the parts that you have it might be a good match!

Mark

[tomscat1]

Alert Baurspotter Scott S. sent me this link tonight from back in 2009.

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/...opic/t,382181/

The person who posted the above is from Colorado..... as is the person contemplating doing the project that is the subject of this thread!

Coincidence?

This is either the same car in both threads, or we have an extraordinary coincidence of TWO 2002 Baur top projects in the same state!!

Which is it? Great story either way!

Small Baur World Strikes Again?

Thank you for the link, Scott!

It is indeed the same car.

I initially misread the posting date on that thread, and thought it was older (from 09. the 09 was the time 9:35 it was posted, not the year. Duh. ) I was mistaken.

There are two brothers working on the project. I was originally contacted by one brother in another forum.... the other thread in here was started by the second brother.

Same potential Baur project in Colorado.

[tomscat1]

---

We may not have resolved whether this is a doable, or sensible project, but.... in the process we have learned of some valuable Baur Cabrio parts sites, which makes this whole discussion worthwhile, IMHO, regardless of the outcome! I post a summary of it here in case you missed it in the other thread.

Thanks to 02rollin in another forum for this link to an 02 Baur Cabrio Targa parts site in Germany!

Michael Cahsel

Ihr BMW 02 Spezialist

http://www.bmw02.de/Targa.81.0.html?&L=2&print=&tx_tscahsel_pi1

No affiliation, etc.

---

http://www.bmw02.de/Targa.81.0.html?&L=2&print=&tx_tscahsel_pi1=0&cHash=539ce3ee17

And thanks to Paul H. (1972_Targa) in 2002FAQ, here is another:

http://www.jaymic.com/shop/subcategory.asp?catcode=60&subcatcode=141&page=1

It

Old Stock and NLA items 02 Parts

Old stock parts and NLA for the 02 range that we have a supply of. Items in this section are rarely re-stocked so its a first-come first-served basis only, any customers who purchase these after stock is depleted will be refunded as soon as their order is processed and will be informed by email.

Total products in this section: 26

Page 1 of 6 pages

And... c.d. eisel (also in 2002FAQ) reminds us of the following:

AND BEFORE YOU pay for shipping, dollar/EURO conversion

charge on your credit card, import duty taxes, check with

your dealers right here in the good old USofA first

ferinstance:

seal # 5 - 51.71.1.820.370 sugg list us price $65

cover folding top # 9 - 54.31.1.847.399 sugg list us price $529

hard top:

black hard top # 1 - 54.21.1.852.357 sugg list us price $1,113

seal # 10 - 51.71.1.826.313 sugg list us price $49

i'm just saying - when you look up these parts in

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=2577&mospid=47122&btnr=54_0240&hg=54&fg=20

oem site lists most/all of the parts priced HIGHER

than what bmwna lists them for - check with yer home dealer first

happy parts hunting.

These are all good suggestions, fellas! Thanks to 02rollin, 1972_Targa and c.d.eisel!

http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2013/03/bmw-02-targa-parts-site.html