Some know of my saga, some don't--but I wanted to share what I've been up to on the restoration project for my 1968 2002, (1661250) I've owned this 02 since 2005 when I had it shipped from LA to to Indpls. In October 2008 I was rear ended while stopped at a red light at the exit of a freeway ramp. After the collision, I opted to keep the car in the settlement, (clean title) and just sat on it and collected parts for 2+ years; this was the easy part. Almost everything I needed came from FAQers from coast to coast, Blunt and my local dealer Dreyer & Reinbold BMW. Lots of friends and FAQers pitched in, Schwartz75, Indy02, my friend Will, and countless others gave advice from afar. Reggie's Motorworks handled all of the structural and mechanical repairs last year and were invaluable during the rebuild. It was worth it, but took a lot of time, resources, energy and support from some of the nicest BMW people in the world! I did this on a budget, selling parts to fund other purchases, trading a 73 Ford truck for labor, paying someone else to do what I stunk at and disassembled and reassembled everything myself. I hope you like it, here we go:
Pre-Collision 2007, graveyard - Indpls, IN (errie/unfortunate forshadowing?)
Accident Day, October 2008
Deconstruction Begins 2+ years later, April 2011 www.reggiesmotorworks.com
Metalwork mostly complete in June 2011
Engine Swap, IE Stage I & HDs - still at Reggie's shop near Indpls, IN.
July 2011 - Bodywork, Engine and Suspension Complete
Sept. 2011 Gutted, kept the 3 piece dash.
Nov/Dec 2011 Prepped for Paint and resprayed in single stage Chamonix by a "friend of a friend" using 100% OSHA approved methods.
Dec 31, 2011 - Heading home from paint on a borrowed trailer pulled by my trusty Dodge
Jan/Feb/March 2012 - lots of little things, opening the bag-n-tags, sorting piles based on project areas, some cursing, door seals anyone (Thanks Pat!) My pal Will pictured during several long hours of trunk adjustment.
Early April 2012, original carpet back in, door panels, interior followed later that week
Mid April 2012, lots of finish work, wheels on, lights on, exported FLA Yuengling's were fueling our work
April 26, 2012 running on beer fumes and very little sleep Will and I installed the seats, filled the tank and headed west, overnighted in Hermann, overlooking the MO River.
April 28, 2012 - MidAmerica 02 Fest - we made it
Roadside Arkansas
Approximately 1 year since the big project began, my 02 lives again! 1,350 miles complete in 4 days, and picked up the "Oldest BMW" award at MidAmerica02 Fest.