My old Bimmer is coming home !!!

[Deschodt]

I bought that car 8 years ago, and when I left Tampa almost 2 years ago and left that car behind at the paint shop.... Minor rust was repaired, the whole car was repainted, glass seals replaced, and a new headliner installed. Just under $5000 bill... (storage alone would have cost me more). That is why I left it behind, way cheaper than California prices and those guys do good work!

She's ready to go - reassembly is not 100% (trim and rear euro bumper) but I was in a hurry to get it back ! She's in good company it seems !






She will be keeping company to the 69 912 and 74 Alfa.



Should make for a good test drive / write up.... Especially the bimmer vs alfa.. Had to share, so excited...

[Rick Lee]

All those cars are totally badass.

[speeder]

From my kitchen wall:

[LakeCleElum]

Nice collection....Good price on the paint, etc.

[Seahawk]

I love it. Enjoy.

Still on my list.

Edit: I should clarify since your collection is so complimentary to my taste in cars.

I have owned a 1968 912 and a 71 2002. Thinking about it and applying the maxim of not re-buying lost loves, the Alfa is at the top of my list, pressured only by another Targa.

You have a fine sense and sensibility with cars.

[dafischer]

Nice collection. I've owned all of those cars, just not at the same time.

[Steve Carlton]

Time for the green with envy font...

Is it a tii by chance? Original color? Love the 2000 GTVs!

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

You have a fine sense and sensibility with cars.

Thanks ! I don't know, I just have the same tastes as you, I guess ;-)

Thing is all 3 were purchased for less than the price of a single early 911. I've had them a long time (except the alfa, recently), so no guilt involved....

No it's not a Tii, but IMO it's better than one (just not as valuable). It's a base car BUT fuel injected with 318 components and modern DTA computer. Makes more power than a Tii and you never have to say Kugelfischer... Also LSD, 5 speed, Recaros, Cooling improvements, etc... No outside mods though, except the wheels which I will finally replace because they prevent a little lowering of the suspension. Yes original INKA orange. It pops ! That is the only car I am actually upside down with, as far as cost/value, but it is such a hoot to drive and my kids adore it, and since I'm never selling it I don't care !

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

No it's not a Tii, but IMO it's better than one (just not as valuable). It's a base car BUT fuel injected with 318 components and modern DTA computer. Makes more power than a Tii and you never have to say Kugelfischer... Also LSD, 5 speed, Recaros, Cooling improvements, etc... No outside mods though, except the wheels which I will finally replace because they prevent a little lowering of the suspension. Yes original INKA orange. It pops ! That is the only car I am actually upside down with, as far as cost/value, but it is such a hoot to drive and my kids adore it, and since I'm never selling it I don't care !

That is even better. Exactly the type of work I would do since you rescued it.

My list is very frangible!

[Brian in VA]

Hey can you tell me who you used for the paint etc?

[billybek]

Nice collection and the 02 looks great.
Like the colour and looking forward to the re assembly and first drive.
I was looking at a 2002 that was in the neighborhood. More rust than metal and apparently worth 1 million dollars!

[Baz]

Congrats on getting your 2002 back.....that first drive will be sweet!

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by Brian in VA

Hey can you tell me who you used for the paint etc?

Sorry Brian, it won't help you. They won't do it again... They're doing insurance jobs only from now on, and swore this was their last restoration job. They have the skills but it does not pay for them to do those, it takes too long (on both sides of the fence, I tell ya), not enough $ in it vs the quick turnaround of insurance jobs (small business, they need the cash flow). I'm the last resto job they did because they owed me - long story... Sorry !!

@Bazza: First drive will be a cautious 3 minutes uphill affair to my garage lift... Where it will promptly get fresh oil and valve adjustment, a gas flush, and a complete going over/ inspection. I cannot believe the damn thing fired up after 22 months of sitting !!! Stabil is the bomb !! (they must use a lot of it in the walking dead for their cars to still run)

Then I gotta figure out what to do re: rear bumper. I have found euro corners (short) and currently have a complete US bumper (long corners and trim). I was hoping to mix and match until I realized the US one is drilled for trim and the Euro is not. Now I need a euro center rear bumper piece !!! Or mix and match ;-(

My 4year old is pumped, he loves that "orange car".

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by billybek

Nice collection and the 02 looks great.
Like the colour and looking forward to the re assembly and first drive.
I was looking at a 2002 that was in the neighborhood. More rust than metal and apparently worth 1 million dollars!

If it helps I'd sell you mine for half a million ;-)

Those things are rust buckets. Double walled cavities easily accessible only to water, via all the trim holes positioned judiciously throughout the car, on every effing panel. Every panel ! Even the trunk !! It's like they did it on purpose ;-)

Nice restored Tiis can be 35K now... But a decent driver 2002 is still only10-15K. Heck of a deal compared to a 912-911 or even an Alfa! Do not buy a rusty one as I did. Mechanicals on that car are peanuts. Body work is not. I lucked out on this paint job, but overall I'm in Tii territory already in terms of expenses for rust and stuff...

[slow&rusty]

Wow..awesome! The '02s are really great cars. Congrats on getting it home.

[Deschodt]

Update - it arrived last night. Started right away, and made it home on a gauge showing negative gas - I must have some good Karma.

I already chipped the fresh new paint trying to take out a hardened tree sap drop on the trunk. I tried softer approaches but hey, first touch up ! I'll live. The car is rust free and it's got nice paint for a driver now.

the only issue is everything they took off themselves and did not label/ put back because I "yanked" the car after 22 months. Most of it is easy, but some of the trim is a puzzle, clips too... Rain gutter trim will be fun, I suspect ! Let alone the fun bits like door rubber... the headliner was redone but no holes punched for sunvisors or interior lights... I'll be poking around ;-)














Kinda funny to see there's still a baby seat in there, the baby in question is now 5 and won't fit ;-) First drive impression after all that time: Way more comfortable than my Alfa !

[Jeff Alton]

Sweet roundie