George Ruiz Searched for the Perfect BMW 2002, but It Found Him Instead
I first learned about the existence of the BMW 2002 at the Legends of the Autobahn event at Monterey Car Week in 2021. It was love at first sight.
Finding one of my own, however, took some patience. I nearly got scammed by sellers representing nonexistent owners. Another time, I almost closed a deal on a ’74, but the owner backed out at the last minute and sold it to someone else.
I posted on social media about my quest and the difficulties I was encountering. From that post, many reached out to me offering 2002s. One response stood out. The owner wrote: “I love my 2002, and I told myself that if one day I found the right person to be the next owner of my car, only then would I be willing to let it go. After reading your post, I have a good feeling about you, you seem sincere, and I choose you to be the next owner of my 2002.” I replied and assured him that I would do my best to be a good caretaker.
I acquired the car in December 2021 and started restoration in early February 2022. The car had blown a head gasket decades ago and had spent much of its life in a storage facility. The engine was seized. Fortunately, I found another engine from a friend’s donor car of the same year. I reused and restored all the parts that were worth saving. I stripped the engine bay paint to bare metal and painted it myself in Turkis Metallic; the rest of the body was painted by a local shop.
The styling and the color palette were all my decisions, not based on or suggested by others. The camshaft, radiator covers, and kidney grille wear bright copper paint; the vintage BBS wheels are powder-coated. I customized a roundie third brake light as my tribute to the earlier models. Inside, I went with cowhide leather seats as a nod to iconic Le Corbusier chairs. The center console includes an old German pocket watch, a stopwatch, and a boat compass. Last but not least, I installed a vintage Rola roof rack for my surfboards.
Agent2Double02 first debuted on Father’s Day at the 2023 Jon Snyder Car Show, held at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville, California. The ultimate goal is to be in the judged area of the place where it all began for me—the Legends of the Autobahn at Monterey Car Week. Truthfully, though, car restoration for me is not a task with an ending. It’s an ongoing project.
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This is exactly how a project car should be done! We can see belly-button perfect restorations anywhere, but this owner built the car to his unique tastes.
3rd brake light is very entertaining! Round or square tail light preference; they are both well regarded, very old people like round, old young like square – ha!!!
02’s are great to modify and make personal, I very much appreciate this interior – fun thinking. The way the 02 was rooted – smiles. The stogy Concour people will cry, the cars and coffee crowd will hover, the drivers will have envy. Well done.
I like the color on the 2002. It looks good and the wheels look good with the body.
You have hit the proverbial nail dead on. Well done George.
Danno
It’s a little different than how I’d do it and that’s what I love most about it. It’s nicely done, sir. That it is exactly the details you wanted makes it that much better. Kudos.
*goes shopping for 2002s. Again.
Turkis is actually a factory color, albeit not a common one.
George discovered in 2021 what I did in 1968 when the 02 first hit America’s shores. Took me nearly a year to take delivery on mine, but after 55 years, I still get a big grin every time I get behind the wheel.
For those interested in 2002s, suggest visiting the BMW 2002FAQ. com message board…