Whereabouts of My Previous '02?

[JerryC]

I came across this photo of a '68 1600 that I used to own 20 years ago. I have no record of the VIN, but the license plate, the model, and color are the same. This photo came from 2002AD, and they sold the car as "recently restored" in 2008. It looks like it had a lot of work done after my turn, it was kind of rough, but complete, when I sold it. Does anyone know its current whereabouts?

 

Edited November 25, 2016 by JerryC
trying to get photo to work

[Mike Self]

The picture shows either a late '67 or a very early '68--no headrests or side reflectors, and an embossed hood trim piece, which was  only fitted to the earliest '68s.  The picture does show US style bumper guards, so it was meant for the US market, even if it were a '67.  Was your car a 6 or 12 volt system?  If six, it's probably a "leftover" '67 sold after the model year changeover date as a '68; if 12 volt, it's most likely an early model year '68, built before 1 Jan '68.

 

Looks nice in the picture.  I'm sure there are folks on the FAQ that would lust after than embossed nose trim piece; it's been NLA for many years.

 

mike

[adawil2002]

Wonder if that is Ryan Danco's now.

[JerryC]

It was registered as a '68, and had a 12-volt charging system. I don't believe it had been converted from 6-volts. I didn't have any history on it prior to 1994 when I purchased it from a broker representing an estate. The poor-fitting hood (due to bent hinge mounting surfaces on the hood) that was on it during my ownership had smooth trim on it at the time. It had been repainted, then poorly touched-up with some beige rattle can paint.

 

Edit: I also recall that this 1600 was fully smog-equipped when I purchased it, and after I sold it. Smog tests were still required on all cars in California at the time. I had to replace the gulp valve at one time, it was quite difficult to find one. This leads me further to believe it really is a 1968, the first year smog pumps and all that stuff were being installed in California.

 

The engine had been replaced, but I had the original engine that sold with the car.

 

The interior was chocolate, and there were no headrests on the seats. The seat back angle adjustment only had three positions that were set by rotating a knob on the lower left side of the seat. I seem to recall that the seat backs did not latch in the upright position, either. They could be flipped forward without releasing a latch. I may be incorrect on that, but it sticks in my head for some reason.

 

I sold the car in 1998, and it somehow made its way to Southern California after that. I heard from a later buyer in the LA area, he used the faq as social media to track me down about 10 years ago. I had provided all my parts receipts to the buyer here. I'm north of San Francisco.

Edited November 25, 2016 by JerryC

[HBChris]

There is a 12/68 Bristol 1600 in my garage looking for a new caring owner, very nice condition and runs well. 

[danco_]

21 hours ago, adawil2002 said:

Wonder if that is Ryan Danco's now.

Nope. But I wish. 

[02Les]

1561983.

Sold in a Bring-a-Trailer Auction in March this year. The Seller had the car for 8 years and reportedly lived in Arcadia, CA.

No clue who the new Owner is.

[JerryC]

Thanks Les! I found the BAT posting, lots of memories coming back from that. It's nice to know that the car ended up in a good situation. I drove my kids and dogs around in that car for about 4 years, and the kids all remember it. It certainly is looking better than when I sold it, but I like to think I started it on its path to recovery. It ran terrible when I purchased it (especially when cold), although it did make the trip from San Francisco to Santa Rosa okay that day. The mechanical sounds always reminded me of the sounds a sewing machine makes. Maybe that was the long-neck diff and other early style machinery talking.

 

http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1968-bmw-1600/

 

[JerryC]

Steve, and others interested in VINs history - 1561983 is not in the 2002registry. However, two later VINs, 1562008 and 1562112, are listed as 1967s. I doubt those listings are correct. A BAT person screen-named 02Anders added this to the forum section of the auction:

 

“The BMW 1600 US VIN 1561983 was manufactured on December 20th, 1967 and delivered on January 10th, 1968 to the BMW importer Hoffman Motors Corp. in New York City. The original colour was Manila, paint code 004.”

 

More details are coming back; the windshield and backlight rubber trim both had algae growing on them when I obtained the car. It must have sat under some trees for a long time. And, yes, I confess to rolling the fenders. A set of wheels I had purchased (more for the newish tires than anything) had so much offset that they rubbed. At the time, no one cared much about 1600s, and you found parts by phoning magazine and newpaper advertisers. If only there had been an faq then...

Edited November 26, 2016 by JerryC

[HBChris]

The 2002 Registry uses uses build year, not model year, that is why the years appear wrong.

[Conserv]

11 minutes ago, HBChris said:

The 2002 Registry uses uses build year, not model year, that is why the years appear wrong.

 

What Chris said, Jerry!  And BMW Archives, similarly, uses the build year and not the model year.

 

02Anders is one of THE '02 scholars, including, for instance, author of the '66 Bible on the U.K. forum, and a major contributor to the wheels database on this forum:

 

http://02forum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=8603

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited November 27, 2016 by Conserv

[JerryC]

Thanks for filling in some of the blanks. I often missed the 1600, especially when the tii that replaced it was acting up. The 1600 feels lighter and more tossable than the larger engine version, for some reason. It doesn't really make sense, but maybe it felt more balanced or something. Anyway, I'm just happy my old 1600 found a good home.