Wolfgang is 53 today

[Mike Self]

1664801 was assembled on 4 February 1969, but due to an East Coast dock strike that year, it didn't reach Bavarian Motors in NYC until May; I took delivery on 5 May.  He just turned over 227000 miles, still on the original engine bottom end (valve job at 157k), transmission (no 2nd gear crunch!!!) and differential--even the original half shafts!  The interior is all original except the driver's seat cushion (victim of a screwdriver in my back pocket).  The 40th "second series" '69 off the line.  $3452 out the door, with Michelin XAS tires and a sunroof, plus all Max's "non optional options."

 

 

Taken on 6 May at our then home in Rome NY, still on NY dealer plates while I awaited my Florida license plate. I still have the plate too!

 

mike

[bavariaboy]

Happy Birthday Wolfgang and many more. 

 

Steve

[jp5Touring]

Congrats on B-day and congrats on owning it for so long.  

[Leucadian]

Pretty special that you have such a history with the car.

 

Happy Birthday Wolfgang!

[King+Sons]

Congrats, Mike! Any idea what percentage of US '69 2002s came with a sunroof?

[OriginalOwner]

INCREDIBLE !!

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

 

[Mike Self]

1 hour ago, King+Sons said:

Any idea what percentage of US '69 2002s came with a sunroof?

Dunno exactly as BMW didn't keep records that detailed, but it was a fairly small percentage.  Sunroof popularity increased with later years, but I kinda doubt if it was more than 15-20% even on the later cars.  

 

It was a $135 option in 1969, on a car with a base price of $2988 so that was a fairly significant increase.  Michelins were another $59, and metallic paint was over $100.  Everything else was either those "non optional options" ($8 bumper guards, $2 exhaust tip, vinyl upholstery, tach etc) or dealer installed (radio, floor mats etc).

 

mike

 

 

[Milo]

 =

Edited March 1, 2022 by Milo-Autostrada

[Mike Self]

14 hours ago, Milo-Autostrada said:

Since your car is a 69, does it still have the long neck diff ? They made the switch to short neck diffs at about mid-69. At about the same time they also made the switch to the 8 bolt crank.

The changeover from long to short neck diffs (and inner/outer CV jointed axles) was made at 1664761, 40 cars before mine.  The change from six to eight bolt cranks--and simultaneously from coil spring-to-diaphragm clutch with a different throwout bearing) was made at 1665200, 399 cars after mine was  built.  So I have somewhat of a unicorn.  And my dashboard doesn't have the little ridges to keep things from sliding around on the shelf.  

 

I've been careful with those Porsche synchronizers since the car was new, as they had already developed a reputation for fragility--a friend  bought what had to have been one of the first 2002s imported (April '68) and his second gear was starting to crunch at 10k miles.  But he was hard on cars, one reason I bought mine.  I figured it it would stand up to him, it would last me a long time.  I was right!

 

mike  

[tjones02]

So, so cool that you’ve kept it all

these years. I wonder how many original owners are still out there? It’d be cool to have a SIG just for ‘02 original owners and family owned cars.

[jimk]

4 hours ago, tjones02 said:

I wonder how many original owners are still out there?

+1

09-22-1971

Edited February 7, 2022 by jimk
The date was off by one day.

[jp5Touring]

Is there a thread or should one be started on how many 2002 and how long people have owned their 2002.

I would find that interesting.