Drove my 2002 today, and I think it made people happy

[thehackmechanic]

It's been a fairly cold snowy winter in New England, but there was enough of a break today where there wasn't snow or ice on the roads, but it was still cold enough that there weren't big puddles of salty water. So I took the Agave '73 2002 out when I ran errands. This car is one step back from being a rat rod; now that I've reattached all the trim, at 20 feet away it's cute, though the paint is completely oxidized and there are isolated blisters on every panel.

But everywhere I went the car raised attention. From the 22 year old Jamaican man who recognized it as a BMW but had never seen an '02. From the woman in the grocery store who said "my boyfriend in grad school had one of those man I LOVED that car." From the people who pointed at it at traffic lights.

I think the car actually made people happy...

[M3M3]

well done! maybe what the world (or at least the US) needs right now is for all of us to drive our cars around to cheer folks up! maybe the depression would end!!!

[dlmrun2002]

Well we want some pix. Not the roundel kind.. the 02 kind

‹(•¿•)›

"Knowledge is Power, Unity is Strength, and Attitude is Everything"

‹(•¿•)›

Lance Armstrong

dlm ny

[Gthielen]

What is your gauge cluster surround made from????

George

74 inka

[Gthielen]

What is your gauge cluster surround made from????

George

74 inka

[thehackmechanic]

Pics? Ok, you asked... these were taken just after I bought it in August. It looks basically the same except it now has bottlecaps and all the trim on it. It's cute, even with the acne...

[quinnfiske]

I have people come up to me all the time and wave in traffic. I even get compliments from toll booth workers. These cars trigger good feelings in lots of people.

Remember this is the car that BMW owes most of it's sucess to.

[dlmrun2002]

looks like a great resto 02. You can bang out the nose I think. Waiting for your 09 summer suburban trip.

Gauge cluster is done in Burlwood veneer.

dlm

[esty]

What is your gauge cluster surround made from????

George

74 inka

looks like maple

[c.d.iesel]

.......it's called - "PATINA" , please .

nothing wrong with it - it's driving it that counts .

[thehackmechanic]

Actually, PATINA would make a GREAT vanity plate for this car...!

[wagnerf15]

I totally understand what you mean. My 74 looks like a pile 'o shit (unless you look underneath, then it looks brand new) but I CONSTANTLY get positive comments everywhere I drive it. These things must elicit good feelings in everyone!!! I know it works for me

[Yukon2002]

Hi,

Nice car! Are those E30 steelies? 14x5.5 or 14x6? What size of tires are you running?

Cheers, Mike

[Mike Self]

poster on the wall in the background--is that "Forbidden Planet"? I saw that movie as a kid.

mike

[thehackmechanic]

The wheels are E30 steelies, I believe 14x6, with 195/65 14 tires (a tad too tall). Those tires and wheels are gone, replaced by bottlecaps that also have to-tall 65-series tires.

Mike, the Forbidden Planet billboard was from my son's high school production of "Grease." As part of the set they made up a bunch of mock movie billboards like Forbidden Planet and The Blob. I loved the billboard and they were glad to give it to me (they were going to trash it after the show). But when I arrived in the minivan to get it, it was waaaay bigger than I thought. My garage has 9 foot ceilings, and it's close. I had to borrow the work truck from work which has a utility body (box) on the back and strap it down flat on the top of the box. But it IS fun having it in the garage.