My Dad just bought a BMW!!

[djmcmath]

I've gotta share this with all the car people I know. My Dad is a Bible School Professor, and perhaps one of the most mundane, dry-sense-of-humor guys you could ever hope to meet. He's smarter than Einstein and has more degrees than a thermometer, but because of his choice of profession, has never had much personal wealth.

Now, that's a small tragedy to me, because I know he loves cars. When he was younger, he had a Corvair (my mother destroyed it, not realizing what the oil light meant), and always talked about it with reverence. Family, finance, and location (back woods of north idaho, snowy 8 months out of the year) have always dictated more practical cars with features like AWD and high ground clearance. When I lived close enough to do some good, I had been keeping my eyes open for something German that would be fun to drive without being a White Elephant that was still inside my budget, to no avail.

But he called me at 10 o'clock last night to tell me he had bought this 1977 320i off Craigslist. I've never heard him so excited! He couldn't stop talking about the handling, and about how different it feels to drive a RWD car again, and how he loves feeling the weight transfer, and how tight it is in the turns! He lives at the far end of a beautifully long winding road, so he'll have more than ample opportunity to enjoy that car. The exhaust is apparently an aftermarket fart-can, which he hates, and the gold wheels are kind of "80's drug dealer," but he's getting some cheap-o steel wheels to mount snow tires on, so it'll be ok.

I just had to share this awesome story. More pictures of my aging father with his car when I can get them.





Dan

[Halm]

I bought one of those new in 1977. Very nice little car. Just tell your dad that they might be the worse car made (or at least that I ever drove) in the wet and particularly icy conditions. You won't believe how fast the rear will come around.

Even so, I have thought about getting one and restoring it. Congrats to your dad!

[the]

Very nice. We bought one of those new in '81. I loved that car, and would like to get one someday to replicate it. I actually tried to find one around 6 months ago, but it was impossible to find a decent one.

His looks nice! The 5 speed upgrade is a nice touch (5 speed became standard in the 1980 model year, 77-79 were 4 speeds, a bit buzzy on the highway). The stock exhaust for it is relatively inexpensive, and a can of Wurth silver wheel paint will update the wheels.

More pics!

[Rot 911]

Nice looking car!

[Don Plumley]

Good for your dad!

I had a 1980 320i S - and painted the centers of those wheels black. I have a soft spot in my heart for that car, very well built, easy to take care of.

[deathpunk dan]

Cool car. Now to build up that M10 engine...show him Ireland Engineering's site...

[djmcmath]

Originally Posted by Halm

Just tell your dad that they might be the worse car made (or at least that I ever drove) in the wet and particularly icy conditions. You won't believe how fast the rear will come around.

We discussed that specific aspect last night. "Watch out for the tail-happy aspects of this one, pa," I warned him. "Trailing throttle oversteer is a real threat in this car, especially in reduced traction situations."

Thanks for the encouragement. I knew I was right to be envious.

Dan

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by djmcmath

We discussed that specific aspect last night. "Watch out for the tail-happy aspects of this one, pa," I warned him. "Trailing throttle oversteer is a real threat in this car, especially in reduced traction situations."

Thanks for the encouragement. I knew I was right to be envious.

Dan

Don't forget the ever helpful: "Spin enough times and you'll eventually find the apex."

I think its great that someone can find a relatively inexpensive car and get a woodie from it. Just the way I feel about my ol' 911.

[rammstein]

It thrills me when my dad does something for himself- he went without for a long time too. Glad to hear your pop got something that makes him happy!

I actually like the wheels.

Will he take it to an AutoX? Tell him its for safety training