other Driving Down Memory Lane...

[RAS-2002]

I'm sure many of you can relate to this:

 

In December of 1972, I was a youth of 21.  I knew what car I wanted, so I saved and saved and bought my first 2002 just before Christmas. A brand-spanking new 1973, Sahara with a sunroof.  And the questions started coming: "Hey, what kinda car is that, anyway? I had trouble keeping up with you on South Mountain Road..!!"  ('SMR' was a very windy road where I grew up in Rockland County NY.)  The TRs and MGs didn't stand a chance against the little car from Barbarian Motor Works.  It was heaven!  One of the neatest things I remember about that car was how few 2002s there were on the road at the time.  If another one approached, there was always the flashing of the headlights in recognition.  And we always stopped to talk and compare BMW stories.  That was part of 'the mystique'.  So, 40 years later (almost to the day!) in Dec 2012, I bought another 2002.  A nice Malaga.  The same feeling of fun is there again.  The 'mystique' is there again.  Seeing another one on the road (a really rare occurrence nowadays!) and the same things happen: the flashing of the headlights in recognition, the thumbs-up, the mandatory stopping and comparing BMW stories.  It is a drive down Memory Lane!

 

To paraphrase B.B. King, "The Thrill Is Back!"

 

Later,

Bob

 

ps: talk about fun - BMW Vintage Day at Saratoga Springs NY on Sunday was the absolute best!! I met tons of really neat, really nice folks and saw one beautiful BMW after another BMW.  Sheer joy!

 

[mikebontoft]

Hmm I bought my first 2002 when I was 21 as well! only difference is I'm still 21!

love these kind of stories though. I always wondered what would happen if I saw another 02 coming my way.

[adawil2002]

I was at the Vintage at Saratoga in my 3.0CSi Athena.

 

Best year so far, great show and weather.

 

Bought my first '02 in Pittsburgh when in college at age 20 in 1989 for under 2K, bought a second a year later for 1K with a better body, switched engines and sold the first one. Drove 'Harry Smith' until '94 when the Pittsburgh winters had taken their toll on the body. 14 years later I bought Vern a Verona '73 Tii on ebay in Telluride CO. Flew out and drove him back to my home in Maine, 3100 trouble free miles.

 

Drove Vern, to the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix in 2011 and drove on the backroads I grew up driving. So for me it was a trip down memory lane, great nostalgia.

Edited October 16, 2013 by adawil2002

[Mike Self]

I went through the same adventure when I bought my '69 new--at 24 (late bloomer!)  from Bavarian Motors in Queens NY.  BMW..."British Motor Works"?.  "How can a little sedan be so fast and handle so well?" etc etc.

 

Great story.  My Sahara '73 sunroof was built in Dec 1972--but it isn't your old car as I bought it from the original owner, an AF captain here in Beavercreek OH.  And it was sold new at Mill Valley Imports in California.

 

Welcome back to the fraternity/sorority!

 

mike

[OriginalOwner]

 In NOV 1974 (age 22) I bought a brand-new  '74tii ...... and today I put yet another coat of wax on the still-original paint.  The thrill of driving "the same old car" has never faded.

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

Edited October 16, 2013 by OriginalOwner

[mikebontoft]

You guys are all "experienced"