I’m not sure what it is about the Venice/Santa Monica border but it’s like a magnet for independent German auto mechanics. Including the guy I use, there are 7-8 indy establishments within walking distance from my house, usually with interesting cars on the lot. This spot in particular, called Glassers Auto Body, always catches my eye, mainly because of the aging Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9 and rotting BMW 2800 that have been sitting 3 millimeters from each other for years now. It’s a shame that two cars with so much historical significance are left in this condition, but even more of a shame that they’re not being driven. Oh well, at least they look pretty, even in this state.
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2002 isn’t a great year to be named after, but I guess it’s better than 1987. Okay, maybe it’s just a number to differentiate between 2 and 4 door models. And although all cars look good in the rain, this 2002 might just look better than most. It’s the perfect mix between tying a sweater around your shoulders and heading to the tennis club, and racing the VW next to you through the canyon.
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Badges? We don’t need no stinkin’ badges! Alright, it has a few left on it, but other than those, this thing could care less about what fancy, German car plant it originally came from. This ride was set up to rip, and it looks the part. It is just dirty and banged up enough to recognize the owner loves it, but knew it’s roll at the same time. The cracked, faded paint mixed with the snooty angle of the front grill gives the car an air of arrogance – like a retired, handsome prize-fighter.
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It’s funny how Minis can make everyday vehicles around them look a bit silly. Even though it appears the car is standing still, we were actually traveling next to it at 75 mph. This super clean pre-BMW Mini is modified just enough to affirm you’re seeing something special – but your attention isn’t drawn to any one mod.
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We spotted this BMW X6 on 14th street in the Meatpacking District. The sexy soft-roader with a chopped roofline was BMW’s answer to the rising trend toward combining coupe-like profiles with utter non-sports cars. Before X6 hit the scene, the trend had applied almost exclusively to sedans like Mercedes CLS and Passat CC. Although BMW was not the first automaker to fuse coupes and crossovers – Infiniti did it back in 2003 with the precocious FX35 and FX45.
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Vintage Bimmers are all the rage once you head south of Houston. They have a rugged appeal that feels right at home in a concrete jungle. This 1972 R75/5 has shocks lined in chunky rubber and a chrome 4 gallon gas tank (introduced that year) that many say resembled the look of a toaster oven.
Its amazing to watch your visual interpretation of a design change over time. When a next generation model is introduced, the fresh details tend to make the older iteration appear dated and out of touch. But this iconic BMW’s simple yet uninterrupted design always has, and always will, look fantastic. From the basic 3 box design to the early interpretation of the twin kidney grille, the 2002 (1968 – 1977) is a true classic. Seen here in original, unrestored condition, it looks like the owner uses the car every chance he gets.
