engine and drivetrain 1972 Atlantic 2002 on eBay: Low Mileage Dreaming

[Conserv]

Again, I'm not posting this in the classifieds as it's for discussion purposes.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191567390345?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Not mine, no affiliation.

VIN 2581713. I'd estimate it was manufactured in the first quarter of the 1972 calendar year, but BMW Archives can confirm the manufacturing date, and original body color, generally, overnight (email VIN with request for all info to info.grouparchiv@bmwgroup.com).

I was highly amused when I first saw this listing. It includes:

"The speedo works fine, but the odometer gave up the ghost. Actual mileage is not known, but all wear indications suggest that the mileage is somewhere in the range of 60,000 miles."

Also note that this is not a one or few-owner car, and is, appropriately, not held out to be. The above "mileage estimate" amused me because: (1.) the seats have been entirely recovered (in non-original vinyl); (2.) the door cards have been entirely recovered (in non-original vinyl and in a non-original pattern); (3.) the carpet has been replaced; (4.) the dashboard has at least the usual cracks; (5.) the engine compartment is disastrous, having been painted black, mostly; (6.) the entire luggage compartment has been covered with industrial-looking carpet; (7.) the steel rims have been painted black; and (8.) the exterior is re-painted (given the lack of attention paid to the engine compartment, this was not a high-end paint job). So I'm wondering which "wear indications" the seller examined, allowing him/her -- obviously one of the world's greatest car guys/gals -- to calculate that 60,000-mile estimate! Looks like 160,000, or 260,000, or some truly unknown mileage to me!

But, eBay buyers are obviously believers, and they've currently bid the car up to $15,100 -- this is not a tii, mind you -- and the seller, who believes this is a "9 out of 10" car, seems to have a reserve in the high $20K's. If some sucker buys this for north of $20K, it bodes well for the value of all our cars. To me, however, this just looks like another round taillight car with a shiny $3K paint job, assuming it doesn't have rust! It's a Northeast car, however, so that could and should be a primary concern!

It sure does look pretty, though....until you open the hood, doors, or trunk lid!

Enjoy.

Regards,

Steve

Edited May 3, 2015 by Conserv

[Mark92131]

1972, as arguably the most desirable year of the BMW 2002, may have fueled the interest in this car to north of $16K, but the rust bubbles in the hood and driver's side front fender would make me very fearful of what else is hiding under that shiny new Atlantic paint job and neatly carpeted trunk.  I do, however, like the color combination.

 

Mark92131

[Conserv]

... I do, however, like the color combination.

Mark92131

I, too, like the color combination, Mark! (My new car ordering goal is always dark blue exterior with saddle or beige interior.)

The factory "recommended" combination with Atlantic -- whatever that actually means -- was not tobacco or saddle, but black and blue-gray or black and gray-beige, depending on year. The completely swapped-out interior makes me wonder if it reflects the original interior color. Does a car with a tobacco or saddle interior have a correspondingly-colored rear parcel shelf? This one appears to be black. The first photo below is from the November 1968 Farb- und Polster-kombinationen brochure. The second and third photos below are from the October 1972 Farben und Polster brochure.

Regards,

Steve

Edited May 1, 2015 by Conserv

[Conserv]

Currently $19.1K. $12K for the recently-sold Golf '72 -- with a checkered past -- is suddenly looking like a steal!

Steve

Edited April 30, 2015 by Conserv

[kiva667]

The outside is pretty, no doubt about it, but the upholstery job alone makes me cringe (not to mention the furry trunk and whatever all that carpet conceals). The flag mirror presents its usual annoyance factor.

It's odd that the seller is "reluctantly" letting the car go, when later in the blurb he broadly hints that he is a dealer/flipper.

However, being the personal victim of a black engine-bay paint job and of black-painted steelies, I can vouch that "sometimes" this is done because of personal preference rather than from actual malignant intent. Just makes more cosmetic work for owners down the road.

[02Les]

Here's a pic of the speedo when the car was on Ebay last year (July) & was being offered by a Broker. 109k, 209k ?? Car was previously in CT.

 

2581713 1s.bmp

[Conserv]

Here's a pic of the speedo when the car was on Ebay last year (July) & was being offered by a Broker. 109k, 209k ?? Car was previously in CT.

 

2581713 1s.bmp

 

Thank you, Les,

 

I knew SOMEONE must have seen this thing before.  Maybe it's a 9K-mile "untouched original"?  :-)

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

Edited May 1, 2015 by Conserv

[Conserv]

Bidding is at an amazing $19,100 currently, reserve NOT met, but reserve lowered!

This might be as bad a deal as that color-changed Colorado exterior/navy interior tii dog that sold on eBay a few months ago for around $17K (and which is, privately, back on the market -- now that's a shocker!).

Regards,

Steve