Club News
    A Permanent Bond With Old Red

    Written By Johnathan Rhyne III of the Tarheel Chapter

     

    As long as I can recall, my father has had cool cars. Some Porsches and Mercedes have come and gone, but it seemed that this little maroon BMW 2002 in the far side of the garage had been with us forever. The car was boxy and ugly; it leaked water when it rained, it smelled, and it had the awful American bumpers. All in all, it was terribly neglected.

    Little did I know that this little BMW would become a passion that my father and I would share—and that it would bring us together as friends.

    Through the years, my dad always has had unique ways of surprising my sisters and me on Christmas. He once gave my sister an apple and some Easy Mac in her stocking. She then put the two together to discover that she would be getting an Apple Mac computer! Another year, one of us would receive a book on Germany’s old country, only to learn that we would be flying out the next day to visit family there. For me, the surprise was two books on BMW 2002s. It was on Christmas morning in 2009 that I was given Old Red. While I was appreciative, as a fifteen-year-old, I never would have dreamed that the little car would become such an important part of my life.

    Soon after Dad gave me the car, we had it sent off to be repainted. My father, who is a real BMW enthusiast, quickly purchased another 2002. This one was a bit rusty, but had an E30 M3 S14 engine poorly fitted under its hood. It was at this time that my dad had the “brilliant” idea that we should combine the best of each car into one; this was the beginning of a seemingly never-ending vision. From 2009 to 2016, our little old red 2002 would visit more than half a dozen shops; with every repair or restoration shop came new problems—and new expenses. The car has been completely restored with new spark plugs, a larger radiator, a five-speed transmission, new clutch, an oil cooler under the wheel well, new fuel injectors, muffler, engine mounts, sway bars, and water pump; custom-welded piping, shock system, and more. It has new headlights, BBS wheels, new gauges and steering wheel, a new leather interior, custom speaker boxes with Bluetooth radio system, and every this-and-that that you could imagine.

    Through the years, my father and I would always go visit the car at shops, just as one would visit an infirm relative in a nursing home. I would talk about the car with my friends, who honestly did not believe that I even owned the thing. Many called it the “ghost car,” because I really had no proof that it existed.

    I was nineteen the first time I actually drove the car. With a mechanic in the passenger seat and wires coming from everywhere, I slowly let my foot off the clutch—but there was nothing slow about the car! After that drive, I had a smile from ear to ear. I knew that it would take longer for her to be complete, but every month would be worth the wait.

    The car always had problems, but until 2014 we never were able to find anyone with the same vision that my father and I had. Kim Kovach, a BMW genius in Charlotte, North Carolina, accepted the challenge to help us finish the car. He was just as in love with it as we were, and he had the experience and contacts to complete her.

    Now I am 22. It has taken eight years to bring the car home for good.

    Through those years, we also brought home a 135i 1 Series and a completely restored 1988 E24 M6, but neither car can compare to the love we feel for Old Red. The best word to explain the way the car drives is solid. It is quick and responds readily when you ask it. Its raspy acceleration roars around corners with grip on the gravel that the average ’70s car should not have. We always have stories of folks wanting us to roll down the window, pull over to talk, and I have even been filmed while driving her.

    Sure, you could buy a new M5 or another M car for the price, but it’s the character and imperfections of the car that make Old Red so enjoyable to drive. It has a strange rattle in the console that every passenger comments on. It also has your classic BMW dash problems. However, the car’s imperfections can be overlooked when you are accelerating through a turn. We don’t collect coins or work on wood projects. We don’t often talk politics, nor do we often talk religion. We sometimes discuss hunting and the outdoors, but the topic of Old Red, and cars in general, is something my dad and I can both enjoy. And for that, I am grateful.— Johnathan Rhyne III

    If you have some interesting content you'd like to submit for consideration, such as a story, pictures, or video, please e-mail Nate Risch, Roundel Weekly Editor.