New Guy on the Block

[andyglym]

O.K. Here it goes My Truly Blessed Married/Musclecar Life. Early 70'sHanging around Aunts Autobdy Shop find a 60's Ducati Motorcycle stuffed in a back dirty corner of the shop Build it paint it mechanic gene ignited.Late 70's Best friend keeps telling me about car on side of his cousins house for 800.00 U.S. Finally go look at it ,his cousin says "for you 500.00" ( min. wage I think was 1.85 an hour) save money all summer,he calls me and asks how much do you have ,I tell him 500.00 by the end of the week. So he says come over with the money and we'll take care of biz. Get there and he tells me 350.00 you will want some cash for ins.,gas,beer. The result: 69 Chevelle SS 375 hp396 Turbo 400 12 bolt posi. Rare factory Holley 750 Dbl pump,aluminum heads,bench seat,tach dash. So essentially a factory drag racing car. Gear head gene ignited. Go to the local cruise strip and see BEAUTIFUL girl in a 67 RS/SS Camaro(unknown to me at the time.... My beautiful wife to be) So it gets better stay with me. Go to auto body college,buy my 2nd 69 Chevelle SS 54k original miles 800.00 Go back home after school ,run into that girl w/67 Cam again,date/marry her. Military service shipped me all over the country building great networking base for cars( remember no internet at that time) So in the late 80's w/3 kids my wife gets a great promotion at work so I buy her a Fiero GT 2.8L V6 racing,ticket getting red. Late 90's While surfing the web I run across an ad 69 Chevelle SS Convertible Original motor/owner with an email address So it takes me 3 months of -mails and I finally take a pic holding a sign" phone #, address,day I can come and buy car" they finally email me back so it's on like donkey kong.Frame off resto,new GM quarters fenders,.030 396 Muncie M-21 4spd. Get the car done 3 years later wife diagnosed/battles cancer and beats it,but the car becomes a casualty to medical bills.July this year wife says really miss the convert how about another one. I ask what are you thinking? She tells me I want a BMW convert and shows me a 300 series car,so the hunt is on. 7 weeks later and a lot of abused cars,I run across an ad w/ no pic just" BMW Convert. Project car 2800.00 firm" so I go look at it and drive it and buy it. Take it home and wife says" that's too small" I had to remind her of the Fiero. She drives it (5 spd.) loves it. Another 1500.00 in parts and here we are in the middle of tear down and paint. Now I know it sounds crazy that there is actually a woman that would put up with a gear head and money spent, but I am truly blessed. She has been right by my side,never judging or questioning purchases.because she has a rare thing called " vision" something that can't be taught,you just have to have it. I have owned so many 60's and 70's Muscle cars,if I had them now in my portfolio,I would be a millionaire,no s***. For 35 years my wife has put up with cars being drug into the garage,bondo dust,grease,paint smell,and all I can say is that she is a trooper and I thank the lord for her every day. So here we are with a Z3 and a new chapter begins with European sports cars.

Great write-up

 

[oldcarman]

Sounds like you found that one in a billion for a mate! She sounds wonderful and much like my wife Joan who has put up with me and my many many cars over 43 years and I now have an eleven yr old granddaughter that is a regular little gear head and responsible for my journey with the z3. Bought one in the UK last year and exported it to Canada. Then this spring I bought the second also found in the UK and awaiting shipping once I can clear up a small glitch. Good luck with the car and please take lots of pics and post them please!! We love progress stories here! JIM

 

[Grumps]

Hi, Kevin, and welcome to the forum from New Jersey. Initially bought a 96 1.9 myself. I really liked it and joined this forum and was just as surprised to find most of the members were from the UK. It didn't take long to find out what a bunch of crazies they could be and had such a load of fun conversing with them. I was so sad not to be there to go on all the trips they organized but soon couldn't stand it and booked a trip over there to meet some of them. What a GREAT TIME I had over there!!!!!! They were like a big family. Made some REALLY close friends. Stayed with some of them while there. Went on a cruise also. Great country, great people. While there, got to ride in some of their Z3 ///M's. Was very impressed with the power and performance of the car...320 bhp.!!!!!!!!. Came back here and started a long search for one. Found one in San Diego and told the guys that I thought I was going to buy it and drive it back to New Jersey. They all wanted to come with me for the trip. One of them actually did!!! @miller1098 from Wales in the UK flew over to Philly where I picked him up and we (not before he ate a few cheesesteaks)

flew to the west coast and got the car and drove it back. @miller1098 knows all about Texas and the local smokie in Shamrock, TX gave him a ticket for doing 107 in a 75. He helped me with the decision to buy it as he has a '99 and mine is a 2000.

That was in March of this year. You can see the record of this event in the archives. I think its Frankie and Miller's trip across America, or something like that. (
Write Up Frankie's & Miller's American ///M Adventure)
The forum members have seen this one several times:

View: https://youtu.be/NWJRmxL1snM

I just got back from a second surprise visit last September. Another GREAT time. This is the place to be if you have any questions about your car. Someone will either know the answer or point you in the right direction. Once again, glad to have you with us. Frankie

What a lovely post @FRANKIE.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Hello and welcome.

 

[Rha]

Welcome from me in Hertfordshire UK, great story enjoy your Z and share it with us.Rha. Roy.

 

[Mint]

Hi @KevinMac , to the forum from me too in Staffordshire, UK. Great story.

 

[Althulas]

Hi and hello from the IOM.