rblongboarder
Well-Known Member
Growing up in Florida during the 1970's without TV created a childhood full of adventures, projects, mayhem and mischief. I am particularly indebted to my parents who led unique lives and encouraged independence, experimentation, learning from failure, and taking on risk. The common thread was a life of being creative, active and involved.
I'd kept a written journal since middle school, and during college I penned an entry which essentially defined the way I've lived my entire life:
"The only superiority I seek is to be superior to the myself of yesterday."
My grandfather, a PhD in organic chemistry who taught me how to make my own Estes model rocket engines, and how to make fireworks for the 4th of July, introduced me to the creative genius and adventurous spirit of Richard Feynman, whose Challenger investigation summary statement would end up defining my professional career as a R&D scientist:
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for mother nature cannot be fooled."
Starting about 2001, I began restoring some well-known BMW's from the 1980s - my teenage years. I was fortunate to own and drive this 1988 M5, which I purchased from the BMW CCA Driving instructor in San Diego, and this 1985 Euro E24 M6 which I acquired from a gentlemen in Palos Verdes. The E24 was a grey market vehicle that had been federalized by Frank Fahey in San Diego; it was a challenge. It was sheer luck that a colleague's wife spoke German - she helped me translate the microfiche parts catalog that came with the E24 when I needed parts. In between cars, I was busy in the wood shop - enjoying another childhood adventure I inherited from my father - designing and building furniture and instruments.
Fast forward to 2022. I went to the Hermosa Beach Comedy & Magic Club and Mario Joiner got onstage. His opening bit began with: "I'm 61. Going to the doctor isn't much fun anymore.. but this is Los Angeles.. I get to date thirty year olds." The crowd laughed their asses off.
Mario's next line: "From where I stand, I can see the cemetery on the horizon no matter which direction I look... but damn, thirty year olds keep me distracted from thinking about the cemetery." You can imagine the response to that bit.
About a month later I was watching David Rubenstein interview John Chambers on his Bloomberg show. Rubenstein posed the question: "John, what would you say to young people coming out of college these days?"
Chambers' response was immediate and electric.. "David, if you're not learning something new at your job and having fun, it's probably time to find a new job."
Those two thoughts began to swirl in my mind.. the way the drummer and the bassist in a jazz quartet play off each other during a jam (I was the bass player in college and a DJ on WREK 91.1FM). I constantly found myself staring in the bathroom mirror thinking "You're 52.. at this point, you're past the halfway point in life. What do you want to do with the rest of the time you've got left on the clock ?" I realized I hated my corporate engineering gig, so I broke out my old journals and began brainstorming ideas for a new career path. What could I do that required minimum CapEx ? I came up with a plan, and I'm executing.
But then the itch found me.. I've been driving Subaru WRX STI's since I sold those BMW's and I wanted to do something radical... a random hot rod conversation led me to the world of 2002's, E3's and E9's. I found e9coupe.com during a web search and a whole new sort of adventure began taking shape... yes... this was going to be a trip backwards in time... way back in time... to when I was born.. I'd be restoring a car that rolled off the assembly line about the same time I appeared in the world.
So here we are.. the first post in an E3 restoration thread which will probably stretch ten years into the future.
I was particularly inspired by a number of E9 and E3 threads on this site:
e9coupe.com
e9coupe.com
e9coupe.com
e9coupe.com
e9coupe.com
e9coupe.com
e9coupe.com
e9coupe.com
e9coupe.com
e9coupe.com
e9coupe.com
e9coupe.com
e9coupe.com
And a number of articles out on the web:
www.hagerty.com
petrolicious.com
bringatrailer.com
Last, but not least, this E3 build caught my attention. I was fortunate to meet the builder, Seth, at the Laguna Seca Historics this year and see this car with my own eyes - it would be the very first time I'd touch an E3.
After the races, Seth invited Tim and I up to his camp site where we got under the hood; there's a world of difference between looking at online photos and seeing the work with your own eyes.
e9coupe.com
The night I drove back to Southern California from the Historics, a vehicle appeared on Craigslist; I got in touch with the owner and drove down the very next day.
Perhaps it was meant to be? VIN #2420398 is now in my hands. Over the next ten years or so, we'll take a journey together and I'll do my best to document our adventures...
I'd kept a written journal since middle school, and during college I penned an entry which essentially defined the way I've lived my entire life:
"The only superiority I seek is to be superior to the myself of yesterday."
My grandfather, a PhD in organic chemistry who taught me how to make my own Estes model rocket engines, and how to make fireworks for the 4th of July, introduced me to the creative genius and adventurous spirit of Richard Feynman, whose Challenger investigation summary statement would end up defining my professional career as a R&D scientist:
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for mother nature cannot be fooled."
Starting about 2001, I began restoring some well-known BMW's from the 1980s - my teenage years. I was fortunate to own and drive this 1988 M5, which I purchased from the BMW CCA Driving instructor in San Diego, and this 1985 Euro E24 M6 which I acquired from a gentlemen in Palos Verdes. The E24 was a grey market vehicle that had been federalized by Frank Fahey in San Diego; it was a challenge. It was sheer luck that a colleague's wife spoke German - she helped me translate the microfiche parts catalog that came with the E24 when I needed parts. In between cars, I was busy in the wood shop - enjoying another childhood adventure I inherited from my father - designing and building furniture and instruments.
Fast forward to 2022. I went to the Hermosa Beach Comedy & Magic Club and Mario Joiner got onstage. His opening bit began with: "I'm 61. Going to the doctor isn't much fun anymore.. but this is Los Angeles.. I get to date thirty year olds." The crowd laughed their asses off.
Mario's next line: "From where I stand, I can see the cemetery on the horizon no matter which direction I look... but damn, thirty year olds keep me distracted from thinking about the cemetery." You can imagine the response to that bit.
About a month later I was watching David Rubenstein interview John Chambers on his Bloomberg show. Rubenstein posed the question: "John, what would you say to young people coming out of college these days?"
Chambers' response was immediate and electric.. "David, if you're not learning something new at your job and having fun, it's probably time to find a new job."
Those two thoughts began to swirl in my mind.. the way the drummer and the bassist in a jazz quartet play off each other during a jam (I was the bass player in college and a DJ on WREK 91.1FM). I constantly found myself staring in the bathroom mirror thinking "You're 52.. at this point, you're past the halfway point in life. What do you want to do with the rest of the time you've got left on the clock ?" I realized I hated my corporate engineering gig, so I broke out my old journals and began brainstorming ideas for a new career path. What could I do that required minimum CapEx ? I came up with a plan, and I'm executing.
But then the itch found me.. I've been driving Subaru WRX STI's since I sold those BMW's and I wanted to do something radical... a random hot rod conversation led me to the world of 2002's, E3's and E9's. I found e9coupe.com during a web search and a whole new sort of adventure began taking shape... yes... this was going to be a trip backwards in time... way back in time... to when I was born.. I'd be restoring a car that rolled off the assembly line about the same time I appeared in the world.
So here we are.. the first post in an E3 restoration thread which will probably stretch ten years into the future.
I was particularly inspired by a number of E9 and E3 threads on this site:
Barney’s Baikal Blue coupe refresh
After having had a BMW 2002 for the last 46 years and refreshing six over the last seven years I decided to start looking for a E9 coupe project. After a few months of talking with friends my buddy Mike Pugh told me about a dry 71 2800 Baikal Blue With white interior that had been sitting for...
e9coupe.com
The Raven e9 project
“Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible”. -Albert Einstein I thought it would be helpful for me to begin this project with a clear mission statement. I may need to refer back to these goals as time elapses to stay on course. This is going to be a long journey. The...
e9coupe.com
Chamonix 3.0CS Restoration
Well, looks like I will be rescuing a 73 3.0CS four speed that has lived it’s whole life in California and was last registered in 1989. I won’t have it in my garage for a week or two and I wasn’t looking for a project but my local enablers convinced me it could be a fun if not tedious project...
e9coupe.com
1977 BMW 3.0 CSL Alpina Gosser Beer tribute car
This is one of very few period correct racing CSL Batmobile replicas in this country. Mechanically the car was in excellent shape with a European M6 sourced M88/3 24 valve race prepared engine with a Metric Mechanic prepared head with shimless buckets, Rally Intake Cam, and forged...
e9coupe.com
My 1974 Inka S38B35 project
Hello from Estonia, Europe. I am a fresh owner of two E9-s. Yes, two :). Both of them are projects that need a lot of work as the previous owners did not finish the restorations and I bought them as-is. Bodies stripped and parts in boxes. The reason for posting here is to have a log book of work...
e9coupe.com
1974 3.0 CS With M88 Engine (3.5 CSM)
e9coupe.com
Getting going on Alpina B2S tribute.
Thanks to many on this site I am making progress on my Alpina b2s tribute. The car is a RHD CS, which was my first car, purchased down here in Australia for $8000, with some help from my parents, in 1988!! Plan is to get everything working and serviced on the car, prior to a bare metal respray...
e9coupe.com
BMW 2800cs -> S38b36 project
Hi All, Approximately 2 months ago I bought myself my second e9. Driven by the enthousiasm for this type of car and my goal to have a S38 swap done once in my life I bought myself from Sweden this 2800CS, VIN#2221283. Just an almost bare chassis, but a very good one with almost no rust. With...
e9coupe.com
1971 2800 Sahara
Purchased the car from a guy in Sioux Falls He said he had it for three years and drove it regularly. He got it from a "collector" in Colorado. Some one was doing work but it wasn't the PO i got it from. I have begun some basic dismantling of the interior. The trunk contained various parts to...
e9coupe.com
E3 fiberglass Air Damn
I’ve had this air damn mold sitting in my garage for way to long. I was lucky enough to come across this mold from one of the founding memebers of the BC BMW Club years ago. This is going to be my first attempt at replicating this air damn for my 1972 E3. Step 1) release wax application. I’ll...
e9coupe.com
72 Club Racer Resto and Modernization
A few years ago I acquired Harold Audaer's 72 Bavaria that he club raced with BMW CCA CR , This car was log book # 20 and took 2ed over all in BMW CCA CRs 1st two club races . Harold had parked the car decades ago where it sat untill his retirement , and when he sold...
e9coupe.com
'73 Golf Bavaria Build Thread
I finally had a chance to snap some photos of the progress, I told you guys not very exciting pictures at this time but I am hoping it comes together quicker than I think. I say mini build thread because I am not going to go super crazy on the updates. The hood and trunk are painted, was able to...
e9coupe.com
1974 BMW CSE
Hey guys, Well, after introducing myself over the weekend, it seems that there is enough of an interest in my electric coupe to carry on a build thread. I created a blog for this project so that various friends and clients around the country can easily follow along. But I will just try to...
e9coupe.com
And a number of articles out on the web:
For the love of a BMW Bavaria - Hagerty Media
When you talk about early 1970s BMWs, people usually think of the 2002 or E9. But a third car, the Bavaria, is a full-sized four-door sedan that took aim at rival Mercedes. Rob Siegel explains.
www.hagerty.com
Respect Your Elders - BMW E3 Bavaria
When everyone else in this brave new world seems to be focused on flash and floss, this E3 BMW Bavaria reminds us to respect our elders. Sound advice. The BMW E3 Bavaria (aka New Six) was introduced in 1971 specifically for the American market. It was a hybrid of the no-frills 2500 chassis and...
blog.fcpeuro.com
A Rare and Roomy 1974 BMW Bavaria with Tasteful Upgrades
The 1974 Bavaria is a rare beast, with only 948 produced. Think of it as a bigger six-cylinder version of the much-loved BMW 2002.
www.ebay.com
Daily-Driving An LS-Swapped Bavaria, Getting Acquainted
It’s an autobahn missile with American plutonium under hood.
petrolicious.com
BaT Video Inspiration: Inside BMW Motorsport GmbH 1976
Learn more about BaT Video Inspiration: Inside BMW Motorsport GmbH 1976 on Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online.
Last, but not least, this E3 build caught my attention. I was fortunate to meet the builder, Seth, at the Laguna Seca Historics this year and see this car with my own eyes - it would be the very first time I'd touch an E3.
After the races, Seth invited Tim and I up to his camp site where we got under the hood; there's a world of difference between looking at online photos and seeing the work with your own eyes.
E46 front suspension and E28 rear subframe retrofit
Hey all, I’m about mid-way through installing the front suspension from an E46 into my ‘71 E3. Why? I’ve wanted rack and pinion steering for a while and my steering box has developed a lot of play. I’ve spent a lot of time researching rack and pinion conversion options, but always ran into...
e9coupe.com
The night I drove back to Southern California from the Historics, a vehicle appeared on Craigslist; I got in touch with the owner and drove down the very next day.
Perhaps it was meant to be? VIN #2420398 is now in my hands. Over the next ten years or so, we'll take a journey together and I'll do my best to document our adventures...
Attachments
Last edited:
