New '02 Owner Here! Here's my '73 Roundie.

[RYOLEER]

Hi all! I just became the owner of a 1973 "Roundie". Picked it up from a guy in Redlands, CA who recently had it shipped all the way from New Hampshire where it spent the last few years. From what I've gathered, she's spent most, if not all of her life on the east coast. The underside has been chewed up quite a bit from rust. She's going to need a lot of work and I would just like to introduce her to you all. I'm new to this forum so I'm not sure how to go about it but I would be tremendously grateful if y'all could take a look at the pics I have of her and let me know what you think. Please let me know if there are too many pics! For any of those in the SoCal area - are there any well known body work/welding specialists that would be able to save this '02. I'm all ears!

 

[Jim Strong]

welcome to the forum. you are in the right place....your 73 and my 71 dont look too different. mines a bit less rusty....

 

[JsnPpp]

Welcome!  Nice looking car, all of it fixable and you will learn a lot in the process. These cars get better with age!

 

Keep posting photos, and have fun!

 

Jason

[NYTransplant]

Welcome!  You'll find an amazing amount of knowledge here.  It's been invaluable to my '02 ownership! 

[NYNick]

Welcome! The thing about east coast 2002's is it's like Xmas everyday. You open up another section and you get a new surprise!! I'm guessing you've got a few of those ahead of you. LOL. I kid, I kid...

 

If you're looking for rust, other than what's obvious, start with under the spare tire, shock columns in the trunk, front wheel wells on the firewall and by ripping up the carpet under the front footwells where your feet go. Also check the front spoiler lip. If possible, get that car in the air, either on a lift or with four jack stands and start poking around.

 

Decide where you wanna be with your new car. Driver, really, really nice driver, hot rod or concours. Is there a budget? If so, add to it. There are many 'might as wells' involved and your goals will probably change as time goes by.

 

These cars make great drivers and FAQ members are unbelievably patient and helpful. You've come to the right place!

 

Good luck!!! Nice car!

 

Nick

[Bmoreindy]

Congrats! Cool car, of course, but what's up with that Doka??

[2002#3]

Welcome to exactly where you and your fine, fine new car should be.  The information on this site will be, as someone else has so wisely stated, "the best tool in your toolbox".

Larry

Edited May 27, 2019 by 2002#3
grammatical correction

[02Les]

10 hours ago, CristianGarcia said:

Hi all! I just became the owner of a 1973 "Roundie". Picked it up from a guy in Redlands, CA who recently had it shipped all the way from New Hampshire where it spent the last few years. From what I've gathered, she's spent most, if not all of her life on the east coast. The underside has been chewed up quite a bit from rust. She's going to need a lot of work and I would just like to introduce her to you all. I'm new to this forum so I'm not sure how to go about it but I would be tremendously grateful if y'all could take a look at the pics I have of her and let me know what you think. Please let me know if there are too many pics! For any of those in the SoCal area - are there any well known body work/welding specialists that would be able to save this '02. I'm all ears! 

 

 

 

FYI:

Car was for sale 2005 in Pontiac, MI, and in Sep 2015, for sale in Flagstaff, AZ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guy Cocquyt]

Welcome to our favourite obsession! Your car looks like mine when I bought it 5 years ago. Your rusty areas don't look too bad and rounded are worth preserving.

The question is, is it drivable? Can you get it licensed? If so then drive it and enjoy it.

I spent 3 years getting mine road worthy and safe and I have been enjoying it for the last 2 years. Lots of cosmetic repairs can wait.

Buy yourself a Haynes manual and a good set of metric sockets and wrenches. These are easy cars to work on, so have fun.



Sent from my STH100-1 using Tapatalk

[Mike Self]

Welcome to the fraternity/sorority.  As has been pointed out, lotsa good advice here, plus friendly folks.  I enlarged one of your pictures and by the VIN, you have the 40th from the last US roundie built!  Yours is 2593664; last one was 2593704.  The VIN plate has been replaced but the number matches the stamped one on the body, so no skulduggery there.  Typical NE rust (rockers and front fender trailing edges), and the rear wheel arches have been patched--competently it appears--but you should check up inside the rear wheel arches to make sure the spring supports are sound.  

 

It's got rear Bilstein shocks (that's good) so probably has 'em in the front, plus a big aftermarket sway bar (also good).  Nice wheels, too:  Minilite or Minilite imitations.  Do you know the car's original color?  Also it appears the front seats have been changed.  

 

Keep us posted on your refurbishment progress...and don't be shy about asking questions.

 

mike

[RYOLEER]

Thanks for all the replies! Super stoked to be a part of this community. 

 

@Bmoreindy - the Doka belongs to the previous owner of the 2002. He said that was his main project so the ‘02 had to go

 

@02Les - I didn’t know that! What else do you know about this car? I want to get to the bottom of this

 

@Guy Cocquyt - Shes currently up and running. I actually was able to drive it an hour and a half back to my house. I should mention that it was swapped to a 5 speed gearbox. Previous owner didn’t know what car it came from but I’d like to assume an E30. Luckily, since it’s a ‘73 I won’t have that much trouble registering here it Cali. 

 

@mike - Huge thanks for that info. I hadn’t even thought of looking into the VIN or it’s history. The wheels are Rotas and the original color was black. 

[02Les]

2 hours ago, CristianGarcia said:

 

@02Les - I didn’t know that! What else do you know about this car? I want to get to the bottom of this

 

 

That's pretty much it.

In the corner of the windshield is what looks like a Texas Inspection sticker; be interesting to know if it went from AZ to TX before ending up in CA.

To save you removing the strut bar, here's a pic giving "details" for the mtr rebuild.

[Mike Self]

3 hours ago, CristianGarcia said:

the original color was black. 

Black is a very rare color on a roundie--an on squarelights too for that matter.  What was the interior color?  Most black squarelights I've seen have grey interiors, but I dunno what a roundie would have...

 

mike

[M3M3]

5 hours ago, CristianGarcia said:

 I should mention that it was swapped to a 5 speed gearbox. Previous owner didn’t know what car it came from but I’d like to assume an E30.

that would be E21, not E30.

 

welcome!  you have quite a bit of work ahead of you...lots of rust/body to do.    rockers are clearly toast from sunroof drains. as stated, really dig into the car to find where rust is.  pull carpets out of front to look at A-pillars and pedal box.  pull rear seat completely out to look at subframe mounts and wheel wells.