1982 BMW 323i Baur

1982 BMW 323i Baur
Memorial Day 2010 First Drive 1982 323i BMW Baur Lapisblau M20 5 speed #4154 of 4595 made. The car was imported to California by Dietel Enterprises. I have since changed the wheels, installed the clear turn signal lenses, and I am in the process of installing a new cabriolet roof. I have to do something about those bumpers, too. :) I love this car! To see one of the reasons why, check my post "Score One For the Good Guys" on 6/26/2011.

Monday, April 20, 2020

1973 BMW 2002 on eBay, BUY IT NOW: US $39,900.00!

1973 BMW 2002 Cabrio Targa by Baur!

OK, full disclosure:  we know this Baur.  ;)  The seller is a friend of ours in Poland who sent us pics of the restoration while it was in progress.  We posted some of those on our Baurspotting Facebook page back in early February when they were in need of some seals to finish the car.  We helped them locate the seals they needed through Jaymic in the UK.  They were then able to finish the car in time to take it to the big show in  Essen (I think), where it was displayed in all its new glory for the first time!  It is a beauty, and it appears that they did a superb job with the restoration!  But have a look at the photos and judge for yourself!  Two days to go on the sale! Congrats to Artur M.!  And thanks to Mike Pugh for the heads up on the ebay listing!  ;)



















Item specifics

Year:1973Mileage:78000
Engine:M10Options:Targa, classic, Convertible, Sunroof
Sub Model:Baur TargaNumber of Cylinders:4
Model:

2002

Transmission:Manual
Drive Side:Left-hand driveFuel Type:Gasoline
Interior Color:BlackFor Sale By:Private Seller
Make:BMWExterior Color:Yellow
Drive Type:RWDVehicle Title:Clean
Body Type:ConvertibleWarranty:Unspecified

Seller's comments:
The car was totally restored during the winter 2019, we start from bodywork, car was totally sanded, then we make all necessary repairs with new original parts. The paint is new with color code matching the vin, color name GOLF. All parts in suspension are new, new brakes, new brake lines, new fuel lines.
Engine rebuild, no issue working 100%. Underbody was prepared and painted in color after stone chip protector. 
Inside we put new front seat, new targa top and new carpets. New BBS wheels with new tires.Car looks and drive lovely !  Car can be looked or tested in Germany or Poland. 
For US citizen price without Europe VAT so 23% less !! 


Shipping to USA with door to door option. German papers. Shipping to USA not included, we can organized everything with transport, insurance and support. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-BMW-2002-/392764821392

Here are some of the 'work in progress' photos that we received earlier this year.  This is how it's done, folks!  ;)

















































































Sunday, April 12, 2020

REPOST: The Best-Laid Plans of Moss and Me Do Sometimes Go Astray

This is a Repost to Honor the Memory of Sir Stirling Moss, whose Passing at age 90 was reported today.  Requiescat in Pace, Sir Stirling Moss. 


Due to an oil pressure light problem in the Baur, (which developed as I was enroute at 6:30am Sunday) I was unable to make it to Lime Rock Park for "Sunday in the Park", the Gathering of the Marques.  I can't express how disappointed I was, but I decided that it would be foolish to chance an oil problem while traveling 100 miles from home.

Bummer, dude.

In addition to missing out on the above, I also missed to chance to see all the folks there for the Annual '02 Fest.  This event on Labor Day Weekend coincides with the Lime Rock Historics Races, featuring vintage races onThursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday.

But the biggest disappointment of all, for me, was to miss out on this:
"Sir Stirling Moss' favorite car at Sunday in the Park? The 300 SLR he and Denis Jenkinson drove to victory in the 1955 Mille Miglia (Photo by Greg Clark/Lime Rock Park)"

I missed out on the opportunity to see one of my all-time heroes, Sir Stirling Moss, reunited with the famous Mercedes 722, the 300SLR which he drove, with his navigator, legendary automotive journalist Denis Jenkinson, to a fantastic win in the 1955 Mille Miglia.   "Jenks' account of that race stands, in my opinion, as the greatest piece of automotive journalism ever written!   

My plan for the day was to find a way to unite the three of them (Moss, Jenks and the 722) together once again.  In the pic above you can see two of the three:  Moss and the 722.   Jenks has long since passed away, so how could I possibly reunite all three, you might ask?  

Here's how:  :)
This is the reverse of the Baurspotting t-shirt that I was wearing for the event.  That quote is from none other than Denis 'Jenks" Jenkinson, Sir Moss's navigator on that historic day back in 1955.  



This is a pic of Sir Moss signing that t-shirt a year ago at Lime Rock, at this same event on Labor Day weekend.  He got a chuckle out of the quote, when I told him it was from "Jenks'.

Here is the autographed t-shirt, with Sir Moss' signature at the lower right. 

So my plan was to get a pic of Sir Moss and I next to the Mercedes 722.  I would have my back to the camera, invoking the spirit of Jenks with his quote showing on the back of the shirt
(above).  

I frankly don't know if I could have pulled it off, but I was gonna give it a shot.  But, alas, it was not meant to be.  The oil pressure light on the Baur at highway speeds prevented me from making the 100 mile trek to the event.   I may never have the chance again. 

 Double bummer, dude!  

And by the way, in case you don't know much about Denis Jenkinson.... here are a couple of pics, that show his spirit.

The first three pics show Moss and Jenks in the 1955 Mille Miglia, and after they finished.  The '722', incidentally, was assigned because that was their starting time in the race:  7:22am.  

As you can see, Mercedes 300 SLR is an open car.  That is a lot of road grime!


                    Caption:

Eric Oliver and Denis Jenkinson, inaugural sidecar world champions, 1949.

  Jenks is the gentleman ..... closest to the ground!  ;)  



My favorite pic of Denis 'Jenks' Jenkinson!  You won't find THIS guy 'taking the bus'!  




Oh, well, so this was not 'in the cards' for me this time.  



"The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men


Gang aft agley."   Robert Burns.  


("The best-laid plans of mice and men 

often go awry.")




Perhaps I will have another, better 

opportunity in the future!  ;)  


Stay tuned!