I was about 15 and a half years old with a learner’s permit. I was fortunate to have parents who wanted to teach me how to drive, had the patience to do it with a high schooler, and had the means to help me find a first car.
My dad had been hooked on early BMWs ever since owning an E30 when my sister and I were in elementary school. I still have fond memories of riding around in that car, with no idea that about a decade later I’d end up with an old BMW story of my own.
Eventually, my dad sold the E30 to a friend of a friend. Unfortunately, it had a pretty short lifespan after he handed over the keys. That’s probably a story for another time. The important part is that the car got my dad hooked on early BMWs and, without me realizing it at the time, probably got me hooked too.
About a decade later, we were on the hunt for my first car.
One of my dad’s friends caught wind of an old BMW that a family friend had sitting in her driveway. It had been there for years. She was the original owner and had long since moved on from driving it, but nostalgia had apparently kept her from letting it go.
We rolled up one day not really knowing what to expect.
The car desperately needed a bath, but when we opened the hood, things looked surprisingly okay. Most of the hoses needed replacing, but the engine bay and the rest of the car seemed to be in decent shape. We hooked up a battery and got signs of life. We even managed to turn the engine over briefly.
We were sold.
As I helped load the car onto the trailer, my dad stayed behind talking with the owner and sorting out the paperwork. A few minutes later, he walked back toward me beaming.
“How much?”
One dollar.
She had sold us the car for $1.
We couldn’t believe it.
In my dad’s eyes, it was perfect. My parents had always taught us the value of money, and this was a car we could bring back to life together. I’d learn how to work on something with my own hands, pick up skills that might stick with me for the rest of my life, and, maybe most importantly, spend a lot of time in the garage with my dad.
And with that, a ten-year adventure began.
More to come.