I stumbled on this sad project tonight after doing a search for a 12 string guitar on craigs list. (I just noticed that this is the same TC2 that was sent to us by our friend, Rick Oppedisano back on October 19th, btw. We had posted it then on our Facebook page. Thanks Rick!)
The seller's comments are very telling:
"1985 323 BMW Convertible. Rebuilt title. Will start on ether. Floors are rotted out. $1,600 obo."
OK. Yikes. Rebuilt title: Strike one. Floors are rotted out: strike two. Are you familiar with the game of baseball? ;) Strike three and you are OUT! So it runs, but it needs ether to start. I wouldn't say that that is a plus exactly, but that issue is at least workable. The engine is not frozen.
The rebuilt title usually means that it has been hit and rebuilt. Some states refer to that as a "Salvage Title". Suffice it to say that this is NOT a good selling point.
On the other hand, it is a convertible; the 323i is another rare find that was not available here in the US; it is an E30, arguably one of the best cars that BMW built; and because it is a Baur Top Cabriolet, it is a car that represents a near-forgotten piece of automotive history and it is destined to be a collectible.
Is it worth saving? Yes, of course.... but I am biased! :)
This car needs a dedicated Baur enthusiast who will buy it cheap, get it running and safe, then take some time to address whatever rust issues it presents. And then he/she will own a wonderful, fun cabrio that has a story to tell about automotive history.
Don't forget: there is already a TC2 Baur in the largest Automobile Museum Collection in the US: the Lemay Family Collection in Tacoma, WA.
And, btw, I bought the guitar! "Stay tuned" now takes on a whole new meaning! ;)
The seller's comments are very telling:
"1985 323 BMW Convertible. Rebuilt title. Will start on ether. Floors are rotted out. $1,600 obo."
OK. Yikes. Rebuilt title: Strike one. Floors are rotted out: strike two. Are you familiar with the game of baseball? ;) Strike three and you are OUT! So it runs, but it needs ether to start. I wouldn't say that that is a plus exactly, but that issue is at least workable. The engine is not frozen.
The rebuilt title usually means that it has been hit and rebuilt. Some states refer to that as a "Salvage Title". Suffice it to say that this is NOT a good selling point.
On the other hand, it is a convertible; the 323i is another rare find that was not available here in the US; it is an E30, arguably one of the best cars that BMW built; and because it is a Baur Top Cabriolet, it is a car that represents a near-forgotten piece of automotive history and it is destined to be a collectible.
Is it worth saving? Yes, of course.... but I am biased! :)
This car needs a dedicated Baur enthusiast who will buy it cheap, get it running and safe, then take some time to address whatever rust issues it presents. And then he/she will own a wonderful, fun cabrio that has a story to tell about automotive history.
Don't forget: there is already a TC2 Baur in the largest Automobile Museum Collection in the US: the Lemay Family Collection in Tacoma, WA.
And, btw, I bought the guitar! "Stay tuned" now takes on a whole new meaning! ;)
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