One Owner Turkisblau 2002

[Collén]

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting a family friend, Enrico.  Even at 83 years old, he took some time and fuel to show me around his 1972 Turkisblau 2002 which he ordered himself brand new, eventually taking delivery of it in 1973 in Sydney, Australia.  He told me that he purchased it as a wedding gift for his wife and eventually became the one who fell in in love with it over the years.  The spot in the garage is still the same spot where he parked it on day one, have never moved homes since then.  It is a 4 speed manual and sports a fair few European accessories as it was delivered.  It has never been restored or repainted and shows light patina and a few dings here and there but its easy to say that this has to be one of the best kept privately owned, unrestored examples floating around, and almost none can boast the same owner for 50 years.   As you can see from the pictures, he has kept every piece of paperwork associated with the car over the years, in chronological order.   

 

The car's odometer is at 73,0XX and honestly I felt a little guilty that he drove me anywhere in it considering that comes out to about 1,200kms/miles? (I forgot to look to see if the odometer was miles or kms now that I think about it but as it was a car spec'd for Australia, I'd imagine it was KMs) a year for the last 50 years. He also kept a book and looked each time it was driven and how far.  Before yesterday, the last time he drove it was in August!  Everything down to the radio was in working order and as you can see from my smile, I had a good time on the drive.  Enjoy the pics.  glad I found this place, now if I could just find my own 2002......

 

[danco_]

This is incredible. Thanks for sharing! 

[SydneyTii]

That’s a beautiful car!

And in my neighbourhood too!

Kudos to him for obviously caring for it so well.

[Collén]

12 minutes ago, SydneyTii said:

That’s a beautiful car!

And in my neighbourhood too!

Kudos to him for obviously caring for it so well.

Have you ever seen him driving it. Might the rarest spot possible haha. 

[SydneyTii]

Nope never seen it and I’d remember a Turkis, I’m on the Northern Beaches in Sydney.

[JsnPpp]

Wow, wow, wow! So great, I bet he has interesting stories to tell too.

 

Thank you for sharing!

[Mike Self]

Yet another original owner!  Absolutely mint, and a rare color, too.  Don't think I've ever seen a 72 Turkis car; must have been a late production 72 as I'm not sure it was officially offered in '72.  

 

What I really want to know is what's the tantalizing snippet of vintage car to the left of the 02 in the first picture?

 

mike

[OriginalOwner]

Mike, 

   now THAT is the story you need to get into the Roundel !!!

 

Sydney,

   you guys get over to the Hotel Palisade for a photo shoot !!!!!!!!!

 

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

 

[Collén]

1 hour ago, Mike Self said:

Yet another original owner!  Absolutely mint, and a rare color, too.  Don't think I've ever seen a 72 Turkis car; must have been a late production 72 as I'm not sure it was officially offered in '72.  

 

What I really want to know is what's the tantalizing snippet of vintage car to the left of the 02 in the first picture?

 

mike

It is a late 20s Rolls Royce.  Don't quote me on it but I think it is a Phantom. 

[Collén]

7 minutes ago, OriginalOwner said:

Mike, 

   now THAT is the story you need to get into the Roundel !!!

 

Sydney,

   you guys get over to the Hotel Palisade for a photo shoot !!!!!!!!!

 

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

 

There is a tentative plan to get the car to the Sydney German Auto-Fest at Gough Whitlam Park (February 12, 2023).  I don't believe there is any plan to get Enrico to the show.  Just driving the car for 20 minutes let him feeling pretty tired so I don't think standing around in the sun all day is his idea of a good time haha. 

[oz_tom]

Love this Collen! Soz for thread bump but ... great story! Will you get it out the the German Auto Fest?

[Collén]

On 2/3/2023 at 8:25 PM, oz_tom said:

Love this Collen! Soz for thread bump but ... great story! Will you get it out the the German Auto Fest?

That was the plan but I brought the car home to Canberra a week early. Enrico has taken a turn for the worse and his daughter asked me to pick the car up this weekend. I don’t know if I will have time to get it back to Sydney next weekend for the show. 

[Collén]

MHere are some pictures while I clean it up. Remember this is a total unrestored car with only 1 owner until today when Enrico signed the papers over to me! I really can’t believe it’s so clean and I haven’t really put any elbow grease to it yet. 

M

Edited February 5, 2023 by Collén

[Collén]

I have a question for those more knowledgeable.. is there any record of factory overspray? I don’t really have any reason to doubt the veracity of the owners recounting of the vehicle but there is a bit of paint in the trunk on the rubber covering the driver side shock. There are plenty of little bubbles of ruse and dings / dents / patina all over the car but i noticed that and thought I’d ask 

[02Les]

Don't see any factory stickers under the hood indicating some paint work there at least. Could well have had a respray at some time.

 

Also, there is no factory insulation on the underside of the hood nor any sign that it was ever there. Another indication of later paintwork.

Edited February 5, 2023 by 02Les