The Adventures of Leela the WunderCoupe ( L O N G ! )

P

pecsok

Active Member
Messages
62
Reaction score
0
Location
New Jersey
After finally getting my home pc online again, I can access my pics of the trip down to Hickory, NC to pick up the 72 cs coupe, now known as Leela. Linda and I decided to drive down in the family hauler, then use it as a 'chase' vehicle for the drive back up to NJ, just in case. (Incidentaly, she performed FLAWLESSLY during the 600+ mile trip!) Due to time constraints, we drove all through the night, arriving at Kirk's in the morning. My good friend Kevin lives just down the road in Rutherfordton, so we were able to rest there before the trip home.
So, without further ado....... Here she is at the Brittain residence, awaiting the trip up to NJ. As Linda and I rounded the corner we gasped at the car. "Wow! That is OUR car!" she said. She was a stunning sight!

003_03.jpg


I took a few shots of the car at my friend's place in Rutherfordton...

005_05.jpg


DSCN0696.jpg


We decided to take a visit to Virginia Beach for a couple nights before heading north again. I took a few shots of my newfound cockpit veiw. That's my ugly mug trying to hide the stupid giddy grin of excitement!

DSCN0699.jpg


DSCN0704.jpg


Here's Linda in the 'chase vehicle', a white Sienna, (Can you believe there is an online Sienna owners club?!) Linda kept radio-ing to me "Wow! That is one HOT car!" She kept passing me, then falling back, again and again to get all the different angles/views of the car.

DSCN0716.jpg


Here I am doing 100! KPH, that is! She still had her euro instrument guages, though I did have her up to 160 kph for a bit. I was impressed that this 34 year old car was as quiet as she was, as far as wind noise was concerned. With the windows all down, I was not blasted with wind the way I would be in the 02.

DSCN0719.jpg


DSCN0742.jpg


I actually like the old school steering wheel!

DSCN0735.jpg


The view from Linda's seat.....

DSCN0794.jpg


The Alpinas really make the look of the car! Nice dirty window! I TOLD Linda to roll the window down!

DSCN0802.jpg


Heres a shot looking back through the sunroof on the Ches. Bay Bridge.....

DSCN0751.jpg


DSCN0787.jpg


Waiting for the Cape May/Lewes DE ferry. I know, it's not a 69, as the license plate suggests. I temporarily placed it from the 1600 to avoid the greasy incompetent DMV thugs' "inspection" hell. Historic tags exempt a car from inspection in NJ, though it renders the car only usable in an 'educational' or 'show' capacity. :roll: I fulfill both roles every time I drive the car!

DSCN0809.jpg


Finally home. Charlie approves!

023_23.jpg


DSCN0837.jpg
[/img]
 
granitrot/sorta long..

If you knew how much money that car cost ME! I live in Morganton, about 25 mins from Hickory, and do alot a business in Hickory. I had pretty much given up my dream of a coupe, then I saw Kirk's (your) car in a bank parking lot with the for sale sign in the window about two and a half yoears ago. That started my search for an e9. I would have bought that car but I wanted a US spec. The rest is history. I am now close to finishing (rather, others are..,as I'm am challenged and mostly doing cosmetic, interior, etc) the restoration. What a long strange trip it's been, and still is. Good luck, as she is a beauty, especially, as you said with those wheels. I can't remember, is it Granitrot, or similar newer BMW color? I do remember that the blue velour seats were in pretty good shape. Give me a buzz sometime if you'd like dvdesign(at)charter(dot)net

Dave V. in NC
74 3.0cs Polaris (nameless currently)clothed as a 72
2X72 3.0cs rust buckets Chamonix
76 2002 Taiga (Tony the...)
 
He he....

Thanks for the kind words! The color is Kastanienrot, an early e12/e24 color. Original color was Polaris. A PO imade the color change years ago, an did a very nice job with it. Yes the blue velour is pretty much mint, no wear or tears. My wife says its like sitting in the living room, only the CAR'S seats are more comfortable!

Regards
 
Hey Pescok....

Great post. Your car looks awesome, and the paint looks new. Looking forward to seeing it. The Tri-State Coupesters appears to be a vibrant and ever-increasing group....

Chuck
 
Thanks, Chuck

I look forward to the next NYC area coupe get together.
It is a euro car, sold originally in Germany, then imported and converted to meet US DOT standards, hence the reflectors, bumper reinforcements, etc.
 
Car looks great, Jon. You're not too far from me; we should get together one weekend.

Hi Chuck. Saw your coupe at Pierre's two weeks ago. Is it running to your liking?
 
You should not apologize for the length of your post. This is exactly the kind of content I'd like to see more of on this board, people actually out driving their cars. It's a beautiful car, and the "slice of life" aspect of your post is very nice. Good to see an E9 being driven and to read about the story behind it. Your wife also has great taste (in cars at least, not so sure about her taste in men) :wink:

Keep us update on your activities!
 
Thanks for all the comments!

I did the first oil change on her this weekend and did a little more snooping, this time underneath the motor, and discovered the block was original to the car. (I verified this by rubbing off the gook above the starter motor and checking the vin#) However, the head has a casting date of '81. So this I know: Originally a euro spec CSA (vin# 2230341), it was converted to a four speed, and fitted with fuel injection! Not sure if the original block was rebuilt or not during the conversion, though the floor mats are embroidered with the roundel and "3.3cs" (!) on it. Was she bored out during a rebuild? Hmmmm.....
So there I am making these discoveries in the driveway, when my wife Linda says to me "You look like you just got a peek up her skirt! Should I be jealous?"

:wink:
 
Ah yes, the archaelogical dig that is discovering the secrets of your new car. If the VIN matches then it may indeed have been bored. The other alternative is that someone found those mats and decided to use them on the car despite the fact that they're not correct. Only way to tell about the displacement is obviously to pull the head and measure the bores which obviously doesn't make sense. Good that you have the new head, that will save you heartache someday during those hot East Coast summers. Was the car originally carb'd and someone installed D-jet? That's a lot of work as the D-jet cars had different fuel tanks and a lot more plumbing. Along with the wiring harness and all the D-Jet components the distributor is different as are various other bits and pieces. Let's see a picture up her skirt! = ) Does she have the top bolt oil cannister or is the original bottom "drain oil all over your arm" version?
 
floor mats

Jon, I forgot to tell you that I pulled those mats out of my parts car. It is a '72 cs rust bucket that a I bought 6 years ago....apparently it was a schnitzer tuned car....bored out with a header, some webers, and some suspension work. It was a quick car but unsafe to drive due to the exptensive rust.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top