Q U A R T E R L Y
T he U LTIMATE
N E W S L E T T E R
CLASSIC B M W
C L A S S I C
C A R
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EdITION • SummEr 2025
I N S I D E
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A M E R I C A
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CONCORSO D’ELEGANZA VILLA D’ESTE • THE VINTAGE EAST COAST ALPINA MEET • MEMBERS’ GET-TOGETHERS KÜSTENFAHRT • KITZBÜHELER ALPENRALLYE • HILDA THE 320 RESTORATIONS: A 2000CS AND A 315/1
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CON TE N TS
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14
departments
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5
Calendar of Events
President's Message
57 Marketwatch
62 New Members ON THE COVEr:
Stephen Grocher driving to the Vintage in his Euro-spec 1982 635CSi. Photo by Mike Bevels.
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
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FEATurES 6 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 14 The BmW 2000CS 20 The Fifth Annual Küstenfahrt 24 Hilda in Highlands 28 A New Era at The Vintage 34 East Coast Alpina meet 37 Northwest Vintage BmW Gathering 40 restoring Felix Graf von Spiegel’s 315/1 44 Kitzbüheler Alpenrallye 50 Trying New Things 54 Ziggy’s Farm 55 Concours on the Palisades 3
Calendar of Events
WHAT ’ S HA P P E N I N G ?
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2002 Fest September 19-21 San Simeon, CA www.2002fest.com
BmW CCA O’Fest October 9–12, 2025 The Osthoff resort & road America Elkhart Lake, WI www.bmwcca.org
Pacific Sharkfest monterey Peninsula October 10-12, 2025 www.pacificsharkfest.com
BmW Vintage at Saratoga Saratoga Springs Automobile museum October 11, 2025 Saratoga Springs, NY
BmW Performance Center Classic & motorsport Festival October 26, 2025 Greer, SC Contact: mike renner michael.renner@bmwmcext.com
BmW Classic CCA 20th Anniversary Tour October 27–30, 2025 Greer SC / Asheville, NC Contact: dirk de Groen ddegroen@yahoo.com
Hilton Head Island Concours November 1–2, 2025 Hilton Head Island, SC www.hhiconcours.com
Bavaria Tour 2026 Organized every 5 years by the German BmW 02 Club Limited to BmW 02s, NKs, E3s, E9s, GTs June 4–7, 2026 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany Contact: dirk de Groen ddegroen@yahoo.com
SoCal Vintage BmW meet November 1, 2025 Woodley Park, Van Nuys, CA www.socalvintagebmw.com
FuelFed Fort Lauderdale Sunday, November 30, 2025 From 8 am to 10 am Classic BmWs featured marque Thrive Art district 710 NW 5 Ave, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Florida Winter meet February 5-8, 2026 Central Florida Contact: dirk de Groen ddegroen@yahoo.com
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Behind the Wheel P RE SI DEN T ’ S ME SSAG E
Dear Members,
We’re running a little later than usual, but
At the end of October, we’ll finally
newsletter, number 83. Spring was full of
Carolinas. We had planned to do this last
here it is, the summer issue of our
great events, and I really appreciate
everyone who sent in their stories to share. Keep them coming! This is your newsletter, and the more we hear from you, the better it gets.
celebrate our club’s 20th anniversary in the year, but Hurricane Helene had other
ideas. Around forty teams have signed up, and I can’t wait for the drives, the sights,
and the good company that always make these tours so special.
A big thank you to the members who have
Our membership directory project is still in
already put together their first events.
directory, please let me know soon. And as
stepped up as regional representatives and You’ll read about some of these in this
issue. Remember, a regional event doesn’t have to be just for our club. We’re a small group, so teaming up with BMW CCA
events works well, and it gives modern
progress. If you’d like to be left out of the always, if you’ve got an idea, a story, or a
photo to share, I’d love to hear from you. See you down the road!
BMW drivers a chance to see some of our classics. All it takes is someone to
coordinate, so if you’ve been thinking about it, here’s your chance.
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
5
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este The Finest Concours in the World 6
THE
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T
his year, I’ll attend the Pebble
fore just how good it was. They all said
of watching the parade of entrants,
the 23rd time. I’ve been to The
attended, but I remained skeptical.
applied to this event five times in a row,
Beach Concours d’Elegance for
Amelia, The Quail, Hilton Head, and just
about every other concours you can
think of more than 15 times over the
years. I’ve shown, written, spectated, and
it was the best concours they’d ever
I thought, Sure, it’s probably a nice show
— maybe similar to the first few years at The Quail. I was wrong.
On Saturday morning, just as I arrived
my friend summed it up perfectly: “I’ve and none of my cars have ever been
accepted. Now I understand why.” Yes, the show is that good.
The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este
judged at most of these events, so I feel
at the Villa d’Este hotel, I ran into a good
describes itself as “a visual celebration of
of experience in this world.
tor. He’s shown and won at The Amelia
a fair way to sum it up, but it still doesn’t
I’ve got a pretty solid breadth and depth None of it prepared me for what I saw
at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este
2025, presented by BMW Group Classic.
I’d heard from friends who’d been be-
friend — a serious enthusiast and collecand Pebble Beach multiple times. We
caught up briefly, then both of us went
quiet as we watched the cars roll in and
take their places. After about ten minutes
automotive artistry and elegance.” That’s quite prepare you for the experience.
The event runs from Thursday through
Sunday. Thursday features a driving tour
for entrants, followed by a Friday cocktail
Text by Andy Reid • Photos by BMW Group Standouts at the Wheels & Weisswürscht at Villa Erba were the
lightweight components, an adjustable front splitter, rear
with only 356 units built in 1995 to meet racing requirements.
were finished in exclusive British racing Green, though a few
16 BmW E36 m3 GTs, a limited-edition homologation model,
Based on the European-spec m3, it featured a 295 hp engine,
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
wing, aluminum doors, and Alcantara interior trim. most
may have been ordered in other colors via BmW Individual.
7
CON COR SO D ’ E LE GA NZ A reception and a truly gourmet dinner at Villa
d’Este. The evening ends with BMW unveiling a few very special vehicles. Saturday is the
invitation-only day of the concours, with 54 cars on display, all evaluated by a team of
top-tier experts led by Chris Kramer. Mean-
while, a “cars and coffee”-style event takes place a short walk (or boat ride) down the road at Villa Erba. On Sunday, the 54 con-
cours cars are displayed at Villa Erba for the general public. That evening, the Best of Show is announced at the final dinner.
At Friday night’s cocktail party and dinner,
BMW came out swinging with a new model
introduction. This year’s debut was the 2026
M2 CS — a car that’s expected to sell out
quickly and take the crown as the quickest gasoline-powered M car ever. Its designer
was on hand to walk us through the body-
work, power increases, and the many little
details that set it apart from the already impressive standard M2.
After a world-class dinner — the kind
you’d expect at a Michelin-starred restaurant
rolls-royce celebrated 100 years of the
— BMW revealed two more vehicles on the
Phantom at the 2025 Concorso d’Eleganza
Speedtop, a shooting brake GT car that will
original 1937 Phantom III Sedanca de
resort grounds. First up was the Concept
actually go into production (just like the Skytop that debuted last year), likely limited to
Villa d’Este with two showstoppers: the
Ville driven by the villain Auric Goldfinger in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger,
70 examples. It’s a concept car you can actu-
and the public debut of the Phantom
Then came the BMW RR concept motorcy-
turing 24-carat gold details in tribute to
ally drive.
cle, quite possibly the fastest two-wheeled machine BMW has ever built.
Saturday started early — as concours days
usually do — and I was on the field before 8
Goldfinger, a one-of-one commission feathe iconic movie.
the event’s already magical atmosphere. It was obvious the selection committee had
a.m. I met up with the friend I’d seen earlier,
done their homework — every car had a
first thing we stumbled upon was a pair of
concours to an almost surreal level.
and we walked the grounds together. The
Rolls-Royces. One was the Phantom used by
story, and the overall curation elevated the One unexpected highlight was seeing my
the villain in the 1964 James Bond film
friend Dirk de Groen — a collector I know
Phantom Goldfinger, packed with Easter
like Hilton Head and Amelia Island. Dirk was
Goldfinger. The other was the new one-off
eggs from the movie. As a Bond fan, I was
from the BMW CCA and various concours
showing his perfectly restored 1957 BMW
floored.
507, with a book documenting the restora-
nothing short of perfection on wheels. And
the event. After flipping through it, I can say
The cars on display at Villa d’Este were
the way they were positioned only enhanced 8
tion that had just been completed in time for the result was absolutely worth the effort.
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Above: The Parade started with Helmut
Käs, President of the Concorso and Head
of BmW Classic, driving BmW Classic’s yellow BmW 507 – a color requested by the
customer before delivery – accompanied
by davide Bertilaccio, CEO & managing director of Villa d’Este.
Left: Also on display at Villa d’Este was Bernhard Knöchlein’s 1937 BmW 328
Wendler Coupé is a unique, streamlined
car built by coachbuilder Wendler for industrialist Hans Kepler. designed with
Paul Jaray’s aerodynamic principles by
reinhard Koenig-Fachsenfeld and Helmut Schwandner, it features front cut-outs to reduce drag and boost speed.
When Dirk bought the car, it was in rough
shape. The multiyear restoration he oversaw transformed it into what might be the best 507 in the world.
After a few hours at Villa d’Este, I took a
wood-hulled water taxi to nearby Villa Erba
for the Amici & Automobili – Wheels & Weisswürscht event. The ride itself felt like some-
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
9
CON COR SO D ’ E LE GA NZ A
Above: dirk de Groen brought his freshly
thing out of a Bond movie, skimming across
pleting the four-year restoration just in
as stunning as the hand-finished interior.
BmW celebrates 70 years of the 507 this
and coffee gathering, but unlike anything I’ve
finest examples in the world. dirk’s 507
ganized by series and often by year, with a
of Show by Public referendum. In addi-
The standout was a group of sixteen E36
restored BmW 507 to Villa d’Este, comtime for the event—perfect timing, as year. His car may well be one of the
earned the coveted Coppa d’Oro, the Best
tion to the top prize, it also received the Trofeo Vranken-Pommery for the most
Iconic Car crossing the mosaic tiles in front of Villa d’Este.
10
Lake Como in style. The view off the bow was
display of vintage BMW motorcycles by a local club.
After an hour, I returned via the same
Wheels & Weisswürscht is basically a cars
beautiful boat to Villa d’Este for lunch and
ever seen. There were dozens of BMWs, or-
Concorso’s selection committee — emceed
few special cars displayed in curated groups. BMW M3 GTs — impressive, considering only 356 were ever built.
The show also featured Italian, British, and
other German marques, plus an excellent
“The Parade.” Simon Kidston — head of the the event, which felt very different from typical concours presentations. All 54 show cars drove past the iconic Villa d’Este, where
guests watched from their tables, enjoying
food and drinks. A few special awards were
handed out here, too.
Dirk de Groen’s 507 received the Trofeo
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To celebrate the 85th anniversary of BmW’s legendary mille miglia victory, BmW
Classic reunited the five BmW 328s that competed in the 1940 race. For the first time
since they lined up at the start of that historic event, this stunning group of cars was brought together again.
Vranken Pommery, awarded by the jury to
a BMW won a major award at Villa d’Este.
the most iconic car. As he made his way
The timing was perfect, too — this year
ing him to drive once more across the mosa-
507’s debut, and the 20th anniversary of the
from the field, Dirk was handed a note invitic tiles — he’d won the Coppa d’Oro Villa
d’Este. The Best of Show by Public Referendum. This was a big deal — only entrants,
international journalists, and a select group
of VIP guests can vote. And never before had
marks the 70th anniversary of the BMW
partnership between the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and the BMW Group.
Sunday, the cars from Villa d’Este were dis-
played at Villa Erba for the public portion of the concours. Tickets for this are limited to
12,000 and reasonably priced — no surprise it sold out.
Along with the Villa d’Este cars, other dis-
plays were set up at Villa Erba. One highlight was a gathering of the five BMW 328 racecars that competed in the Mille Miglia in
1940. It was the first time in 85 year they’d
been shown together. The display was tasteful, with understated signage framing the
collection. It felt like something out of MoMA or the Louvre. The 50th anniversary of the BMW 3 Series was also marked with a
thoughtful exhibit.
Just beyond the 328s was the BMW Art Car
display. The hallway walls were covered with images of every Art Car, leading to the real thing at the end — this year, the spotlight
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
11
CON COR SO D ’ E LE GA NZ A At Villa d’Este, BmW celebrated the 50th anniversary
of the 3-Series with a curated display of models span-
ning all seven generations, highlighting the evolution
of the brand’s most successful and iconic model line.
was on the 1992 M3 GTR painted by Sandro
dinner at Villa d’Este. If you’re wondering
watch and the prestige of having bested
BMW Group Trofeo – Best of Show yet, it’s
the most exclusive concours in existence.
Chia.
why I haven’t mentioned the winner of the
of the 54 concours cars — a more public ver-
because the announcement happens at the
The show wrapped with a Sunday parade
sion of Saturday’s procession. While it wasn’t
as exclusive, it was still the best of its kind
I’ve seen. Once again, Simon Kidston pre-
sented each car with commentary. Class win-
d’Este, here are a few tips: the only way to
in attendance know when it happens.
invited, or get on the waitlist for the Villa
fireworks over Lake Como, so even those not This year’s winner was the 1934 Alfa
Romeo P3 from the Auriga Collection — a
The weekend concluded with a black-tie
comes with a beautiful A. Lange & Söhne
12
If you’ve always dreamed of attending Villa
very end of the dinner — and it’s marked by
ners and runners-up from the previous day were announced during this segment.
some of the world’s finest automobiles at
truly deserving car. The Best of Show award
attend Saturday’s show is to enter a car, be d’Este hotel package. However, the Saturday event at Villa Erba is open to the public, and tickets do sell out — so buy early. It may be the second-best concours day in the world,
THE
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The featured BmW Art Car at the event was Art Car No. 13, a striking BmW m3 GTr
painted by renowned Italian artist Sandro Chia.
just behind Saturday at Villa d’Este. You can
find more info at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este website.
Finally, a heartfelt thank-you to Helmut
Käs and Tom Plucinsky from BMW Group Classic for inviting me to what is now —
without question — my favorite concours in the world. I finally understand what all the
fuss is about, and I hope this story helps
The winner of the “Best of Show” (Trofeo BmW Group) at the 2025 Concorso d’Ele-
d’Eleganza Villa d’Este really is.
(also known as the P3), part of Germany’s Auriga Collection.
convey just how truly special the Concorso
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
ganza Villa d’Este—as chosen by the official jury—was the 1934 Alfa romeo Tipo B
13
BM W 20 0 0 SC
The BMW 2000CS A Tale of Four 2000CS BMWs
John mcdonough's 2000CS at its first showing at the Greenbrier Concours in West Virginia.
14
THE
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M
y relationship with the BMW 2000CS model began in 1972. Following successful racing overseas I asked BMW/AG for
support to compete in the old Trans-Am under 2.5 Class.
With factory support Datsun and Alfa were dominating with a few 2002s
chasing. Some enthusiasts criticized BMW for lack of support but few in
the US knew that BMW in Munich had built and tested a complete car for
that series. But at the race weight set by SCCA, BMW determined it was
impossible to win. They said they could send me that car, but it would be
a wasted effort.
By Ray Korman
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
15
BM W 20 0 0 SC Instead, in recognition of my recent wins,
Conditions were no better elsewhere. In
they sold me a specially equipped BMW 3.0
the rear the spring perches were nearly
price. I then bought and prepared a 2002 for
the trunk. The floor and frame rails were
trailer hitch on the back of the Bavaria. It had
tos to the owner and he agreed we should
heavy weight behind made it treacherous on
asked me to find and acquire a more suit-
sedan (Bavaria) family car at a very special the IMSA RS Series and bolted a factory
power in reserve pulling up hills but the
the highway. I sold the Bavaria and bought a
Dodge Van for towing. For daily driving I found a 2000CS in need of paint and an
engine. After an engine rebuild and excellent paint job, I had only about 75 break-in miles
gone and the springs poised to burst into disintegrating. I sent about 35 close up pho-
not attempt a resuscitation. Alternatively, he able 2000CS to restore.
I have a vivid memory of a luncheon dur-
ing a trip to Munich. Showing some photos
of my race cars to some BMW engineers, a
photo of my 2000CS popped up. One of the
on the car when the USAF said they needed
engineers leaned over the table with a churl-
an opportunity I sold the kids bicycles, our
problems with that?” BMW soon developed
me for an assignment in Germany. For such color TV, and the 2000CS within a week. However, that assignment was soon
ish grin and asked, “Ray, you have some rust
techniques to resolve condensation prob-
lems in the unitized chassis but not in time
changed and my next posting would still be
for these early models.
2000CS, expecting to enjoy it for many
travel in the COVID pandemic I had now
Force and a year later a collector from Ohio
more than a year and numerous inquiries.
turn down. He phoned a day later to inform
honest used car dealers in the US. A dealer
had gotten pulled over for a quite high
had was absolutely rust free. And it was.
in the US. I soon found and rebuilt a second years. About then I retired from the Air
made an offer on my CS that I could not
me he had trouble on the drive home. He speed violation! Fantasies sometimes do
come true. The state trooper was a car buff and was so impressed with the CS and the
ray Korman and his first 2000CS.
Knowing that, and with the restrictions for
ray Korman and his second 2000CS.
been tasked to find a good chassis. It took
It is heartening to learn that there are some
in San Diego convinced me that the CS he
That car needed some work, the usual rub-
ber suspension bushings, drive shaft flex
disc, brake lines, worn seals here and there,
owner got off with just a warning! He could
the expected delaminated dash and door
John mcdonough's 2000CS sat for 35 years
that fast.
liver a concours level finish at a modest cost.
motors in Sacramento, California.
not believe a four cylinder motor could go Fast forward to 2019; along with COVID
wood trim, but overall, we were able to de-
While finishing that job, John McDonough,
there comes to my shop the tragic remains
a staunch BMW enthusiast from New York,
in vital areas. It had not been poorly re-
represented as having spent most of its 56
of a 2000CS. This chassis had terminal rust stored; it had been fraudulently ‘repaired’. Looking up under the left front fender
something looks odd. I pulled on something sticking out and peeled off several layers of
sticky backed aluminum tape that had been
painted over with undercoating. It covered a rust hole 2-3” height and around 15 inches
sends me another 2000CS. This car was years in a showroom. At first glance it
looked great. We thought, well, not much to
do on this one. On closer examination it was clear the car had been repainted. A nice fin-
ish but done without removing the trim and seals. And the trim showed some scuffing,
long. Located just below the front strut
right: ray Korman and John mcdonough
of the front corner of the car. Diabolical!
the ultimate driving museum.
mount, this sheet metal supports the weight
16
at the opening of the Alpina exhibition at
in the showroom of Lubo’s Bavarian
The 2000CS with its distinctive front-end styling and European headlights. scratches, and discoloration. The dash
and door wood was starting to delaminate. Engine, transmission, and differential seals and gaskets have dried out and seeping.
Whoever had repainted the car had applied
To this end we tossed the FM/Cassette
player and sourced a BMW/Blaupunkt period correct European model radio.
The exterior trim was good but not show
quality. We sent it off to have the scuffs,
black body undercoating to the inner fend-
dents, scratches, and discoloration removed,
to be extremely difficult to remove. And as
the front nose trim, and we were surprised
ers of the engine compartment. This proved expected the firewall insulation was disintegrating, and the headliner was discolored
then re-anodized. The roughest piece was
and pleased to see it was still available new
from BMW. However, when it arrived it did
and hanging down. Many items to repair but
not fit. It was over an inch too short on both
rust here and there and all easily eliminated
refinishing, and it came back months later,
all doable. Some very insignificant surface and sealed.
Overall, this was an ideal car to transform
into a sure Concours d’ Elegance Winner. We would make no high performance modifications. The focus would be to diligently
ensure originality in all parts and repairs.
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
ends. We now sent the original piece out for looking absolutely like new. And it fit perfectly!
The fifty-five-year-old rubber door and
Window regulators, motors, and switches
were cleaned, lubed, and adjusted. The
paint shop did an excellent job in ensuring the alignment and spacing of doors, hood,
and trunk lid. All E9s have covers in the front nose section above the lights. We find these missing on more than half of the coupes
coming in here. They are NLA from BMW.
Years ago we made a pattern and fabricated some to exactly match the originals. These
were ready to paint and install. All fuel,
coolant, and hydraulic hoses were replaced.
For longevity, suspension and steering parts
were powder coated, including the front and rear sub-frames.
Getting down to the finer points we
window seals were all hardened. Most are
cleaned and re-flocked the glove box. The
models, and readily available.
scratched. New ones were unavailable from
the same as the later 2800CS and 3.0CS
original tire pressure decal was faded and
17
BM W 20 0 0 SC
A spotless engine bay with the original double Solex 40 PHH side-draft carburetors.
Left: The interior is finished with beauti-
fully crafted wood trim that adds just the right touch of elegance.
BMW, however one similar decal for the
tests, the car lacked the spirit expected
CS designation and different air pressure
ing the motor to be up to the level of the
2000C was in stock but it came without the settings. We purchased that one to give us the correct color, layout , and font style.
Then our nearby computerized sign shop loaded everything into their machine, in-
cluding the CS info and produced perfect images of the originals.
from the twin side draft Solex carbs. Wantexterior, interior, and mechanical restorations it was decided to open up it up. We
years of storage, this engine may have been
started up ‘dry’ many times, scrubbing the
walls and rings.
mileage?
BMW original parts, next oversize pistons,
ance. How could that be with such low Whenever we fire up a freshly built
motor, or one that has not been running in
compression tests were marginal. On road
some light oil into the cylinders, pour some
18
the plugs out until we see the oil pressure
come up. I suspect within those over fifty
found excessive piston/cylinder wall clear-
The motor was a bit of a puzzle. The very
low mileage was well documented, yet the
oil over the valve train, and turn it over with
many years, we pull the spark plugs, squirt
Doing a full rebuild of the motor with
and bored and honed with a torque plate,
new bearings, fresh valve and seat work,
gave us an engine that was now on a par
with the rest of the restoration. THE
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CLASSIC
The Karmann-built 2000CS was the forerunner of the
six-cylinder 2800CS. From the A-pillar back, the bodies were identical.
The coupe came to us with the original
internet time and a set were found, though
steel wheels, chrome hub caps and rings,
scratched and dented. To find a craftsman
and powder coated the rims and mounted
task of tediously reworking the caps they
and some old white wall tires. We cleaned new Vredestein 14” tires. Meanwhile, John
had confirmed that some good looking
Italian FPS (Fratelli Pedrini Sarezzo) alloy
wheels had been a factory option. We had
willing to do such a small but important
went off to be repaired and re-chromed in Mexico. With the FPS rims mounted, the restoration was finally finished.
We completed the project just weeks
considered Alpina alloys. They would be
before the annual Greenbrier Concours d’Ele-
nal. We soon learned that the FPS rims were
rapidly with this year’s featured marque
through a friend in Italy wile John searched
an opportunity not to be missed. Competi-
period correct, but they would not be origiscarcer than Alpinas. I made inquiries
long I was beginning to get annoyed. He
redeemed himself by standing up and
pronouncing, “This car should win!”
The Best in Class did go to a faultless
1967 Mercedes 250 SL. The 2000CS came in
next, taking home a blue ribbon and hand-
some trophy.
being Ferrari. Only 160 miles away, this was
the McDonough Granada Red BMW 2000CS
tion in our class were a pair of magnificent
ever, they were missing the hub caps. More
assorted others, all meticulously presented.
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
very close inspection. Indeed he took so
gance in West Virginia. This event has grown
the internet. After two years of looking,
John located a new set in Germany. How-
The fellow who had prepared one of
the Jaguars came over and gave the CS a
Jaguar E Types, some early Porsches, and
If you are in the area next Fall, look for
on display at the Bridgehampton Car Show,
September 13th, on the golf course that sits
astride the old Bridgehampton Race Circuit.
It will be easy to spot. It stands out!
19
COAS TA L DR IV E
The Fifth Annual
Küsten I
have written in the past about the ad-
decided to hold our event while the val-
BMW friends have taken on the back-
winter and spring rains. The benefits were
ventures that I and a few of my vintage
roads of California. As this was the fifth
year of our annual Küstenfahrt or Coastal Drive we changed things up a bit and
made our drive in April instead of Octo-
immediate: fewer cars and almost deserted roads and byways, great weather and idyllic scenery.
This year we had our largest turnout
ber. Why? Instead of the dry brown hills of
ever with twenty-one cars and twenty-four
tel rooms with wine harvest visitors we
the camaraderie and not just about the
the central coast and competition for ho-
20
leys and hills were still green from the
participants. As this journey is really about
drives (although they are awesome) we
even allowed two vintage Porsches to join
us in the mix! The assortment of vintage
BMWs included two 2002 tiis, ten e9
coupes, three e12 sedans, one e30 cabriolet, an e32 735i, an e28 M5, and an e46 Touring recently imported from the
Netherlands and the aforementioned
911s. It is not often that ten e9 coupes can get together and there was a nice assort-
THE
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CLASSIC
fahrt Text by Chris Macha Photos by Doug Park
ment of 2800CSs, 3.0CSs and an Italian
to escape the worst of the traffic and were
palette as well: Chamonix, Polaris, Col-
headed north towards Santa Barbara. Our
and those were just the coupes.
town of Los Alamos in the Santa Ynez wine
delivery CSL. We also had a nice color
orado, Fjord, Verona, Atlantik and Tundra, Our adventure began in Long Beach
where many of us met on a Tuesday morning at 5:30 AM. Traffic on the west side of Los Angeles can be brutal on a work day,
so an early start is essential. We managed
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
able to stay fairly close together as we
destination, Shell Beach. Since we all
stayed at the same hotel we gathered for
wine and cheese on the lawn overlooking
destination was breakfast in the small
the ocean before going to dinner.
country. Leaving Highway 101 behind we
four hours of driving so leaving early was
took two lane backroads like Highways 135 and 1 through rural farming areas and the small towns of Guadalupe and Oceano.
Before long we arrived at our first day’s
Day Two was going to involve around
not necessary and we got together in the
parking lot at 9 am. If you have ever or-
ganized a group drive, then you can relate
as it is often worse than herding cats!
21
COAS TA L DR IV E Sometimes I have to test one of the mem-
bers by asking “What did I just say?” The re-
sponse, “I didn’t do anything!” This morning
it was a little more important as I had sent
Paul Cain ahead of us in his 1974 Fjord Blau
3.0CS to set up on the side of the road
above Cayucos on the coast so we could
pull in for a group photo opportunity. So what happened? Most of the group left
early and almost passed Paul up as he was
trying to get their attention to park. In the
end we took some amazing photos and
videos of all twenty-one cars. From there
we headed up Highway 1 towards Big Sur
to stop at Ragged Point about an hour
away. As the road is still closed around 30
miles above Ragged Point, we had no traffic
at all, well except for a few large semi-trac-
tor trailers each with two huge boulders
headed north to be used in the road repair
operation. Fortunately for us we got to
experience Nacimiento Ferguson Road ten
miles or so ahead which took us over the
crest of the Coastal Range. It climbs several
thousand feet in nine miles and took us
above the coastal clouds and drizzle which
made driving this single lane road a bit
challenging. It had been closed for over
three years due to wildfires and erosion
from the rains of several winters. Dirk and
Alendra will remember this road I am sure
from a drive we participated in which
included way too may Porsches! As we
dropped down into warmer climes, we fol-
lowed County Road G14 as we wound our
way into Paso Robles for the evening. We
had a lovely gathering at John Niedern-
hofer’s home where he served a new beer
that he was testing on us as he owns three
breweries in SoCal.
The next morning our departure was also
very casual as our journey would be short-
er than the day before. From Paso we
headed north to San Miguel and once again
left Highway 101 behind and took Cross
Canyon Road eastwards to the tiny commu-
nity of Parkfield. We did not stop here but it 22
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with verdant green fields, trees and hill-
sides and with, yes, more twists and turns.
The saloon is not open, but it makes for a
great rest stop and more photos. For the
afternoon Paul planned a blind wine tasting
with cheese imported from the Nether-
lands at his sister’s home in Cayucos right
above the ocean. Again, it was the chance
to socialize and share our stories from the
day’s drive before we headed back Paso again for night number three. Paso has
some amazing restaurants with great food
and wonderful wines as there are over
three hundred wineries in the greater Paso
Robles area. Some say that Paso is the
Napa and Sonoma of thirty years ago and it
sits halfway between Los Angeles and San
Francisco it has become very popular.
My trip encompassed nearly 1,000 miles as
instead of heading home three of us drove
north to Monterey on Friday so we could at-
tend the Bay Area 2002 show on Saturday at the Brisbane Marina which I had not attended in several years. And I did not even men-
tion the rare M535i owned by Chris Kohler,
the Dietel Alpina 528i owned by Jon Iverson
or the Hartge 735 of Rey Rivera which should
is famous for the Parkfield Saloon and their
probably have their own stories.
delicious hamburgers. We now turned south and soon arrived at Highway 41
which took us even farther south past
Cholame and the James Dean Memorial
and through Shandon and Creston. The 41 was freshly paved and quite twisty which
allowed us to drive a little more aggressive-
ly but still responsibly. The goal was a short road known as County Road 229 which has three miles of the most incredible twists and turns that you can image. Everyone
waited as I drove ahead to give the followers the ‘all clear’ to proceed briskly. It can
be best described as an adult version of a skate board track with many off-camber turns. Our next stop would be the Pozo Saloon on a road we call the Pozo Loop
past farms, ranches and assorted dwellings
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
23
A
193 8 B MW 32 0 B AU R CA BR I O L E T
year ago Richard Martorell told my
wife about a road rally for vintage
sports cars in Highlands, N.C. I
wanted to go back to Germany to buy parts,
but they talked me into going to the rally.
Jane’s 320 was the only car we had capa-
ble of making the 600 mile trip. We had
there was a little country church with a
shade tree in coasting distance. A mechanic
with a truck always brought up the rear, but
Richard usually had my car fixed by the time
the truck arrived.
to get it ready. Preparation consisted of new
ence. The first day we drove in rain, fog,
clutch, wiper blades, fan belt, and working
on the brakes. When we drove the car in
Highlands the brakes were still pulling se-
verely to the right. After seeing the moun-
Hilda in Highlands in 1991
by Jane and Stephen Sanders
tainous terrain with hair-pin curves going
into Highlands we worked some more on the brakes. But once we started driving, I was too busy to worry about them.
The only other pre-war car was a type
37A Bugatti. At the first chance the Bugatti and most everyone else passed me and
roared off. Richard and his brother Knight patiently followed me the entire route in
Knight’s Jaguar XK-120. We over-heated nu-
merous times but finally got the packing nut on the water pump tight enough to stop the leak. Our one real breakdown was when the
24
quit. There was often no place to pull off,
however when the fuel pump abruptly quit
never driven the car any significant distance
and I foolishly waited until the last minute
(From the Fall 1991 issue of the BmW Vintage Club newsletter, the Klassiker)
6 month old American electric fuel pump
Driving in the mountains was an experi-
mist, and clouds from Highlands to Ashville.
The mist reflected the golden cast from the
old Bosh Headlights. The headlights actually
do o.k. But the windshield wipers are a joke.
We entered one tunnel without turning on
the lights. We were suddenly in total dark-
ness and could not see the other end of the
tunnel. That was my most stupid move for
the day. At the end of the first day one of
the officials came up to me and said I forgot
to have my safety inspection. Since we sur-
vived the mountains in rain, he pronounced
us o.k. (actually he really did inspect the car
and had a sharp eye for some minor prob-
lems).
We were thrilled to arrive at the lavish
Biltmore Estate on the first day. The cars
were on display on the front lawn and
looked perfectly at home. The next day
enroute to Boone we stopped at famous
Chimney Rock Park. We each ran the hill-
climb at Chimney Rock and were judged on
consistency for two runs. Even if I had not
mis-shifted near the finish line in the first
run my score would have been lousy. The
third day we drove from Boone to Gatlin-
burg. This was the longest 225 miles I have
ever driven. We were always routed onto
secondary roads and the final leg from
Cherokee to Gatlinburg was a continuous
uphill grade for about 30 miles. We over-
heated so many times that we finally de-
cided to change the water pump in the
parking lot while everyone tore up the local
THE
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go-cart track. When we got the old pump off
it looked better than the new one. After
much debate we put the old pump back on.
Every evening we were the last car in, and
people were amazed that we made it... so were we!
The final day back to Highlands ended
ning 2nd place people’s choice for con-
cours. This helped offset the other award
which was for breaking down the most.
Walking up to the podium to receive this
Richard not only won the Hare and Hound,
we hope some of you reading this will join
the same prize next year. Knight and
mileage. Somehow Knight and Richard won
319/1 in the 1992 Highlands Classic. The
for patiently following us. I won’t elaborate
tem. Originality is nice, but I learned the car
had better run, stay cool, and stop.
but also received 3rd place in concours.
first place. I guess they deserved something
good brakes, and a clean reliable fuel sys-
dubious prize I realized we will probably get
with a complex game, The Hare and Hound, with an award for the most accurate
be comfortable and dry. Whichever one we
take will have an electronic cooling fan,
Our plans are to drive either the 327 or
319/1 would be more fun but the 327 would
Next year Richard will have his 328 and
us in the Highlands. I have only driven Hilda
twice since we got home... both times I got
stranded. Where was Richard when I really
needed him?
about them coasting 10 miles down the
mountain into Ashville. Suffice it to say my gas gauge was made by Bosch and not
Lucas. This was the only time they were in front of us.
I knew they were low on gas and when
Knight flashed his lights it was time to get
out of the way. Just for the record I should say they never completely ran out of gas. By the end of the rally the 320 was
named “HILDA”.
She did well at the awards banquet win-
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
25
W
19 3 8 B MW 32 0 B AUR CA BR I O L E T
hen the Lane Motor Museum
accepted the invitation to the
2025 Highlands Motoring Festi-
val (HMF), they brought more than just
another beautiful car — they brought mem-
ories. The return of the 1938 BMW 320 Baur
Cabriolet, affectionately known as “Hilda,”
stirred nostalgia and stories from club
members and Highlanders who had known
her since her days in Highlands in the early
1990s.
Only 4,185 BMW 320s were produced,
and of those, just 189 were delivered as
bare chassis to coach builders. Hilda’s body
Hilda in Highlands in 2025
By Steve Hamm and David Yando
was crafted by Baur in Stuttgart, with distinctive three-seat coachwork featuring a
sideways-mounted jump seat in the rear. She is one of just seventeen known sur-
BMW 320 in Levittown, PA — quite possibly
Hilda. She then passed through Kentucky,
Indiana, and Alabama. George Caddick of
Evansville, Indiana restored the disassem-
bled car in the late '70s, eventually selling it
in 1988 to Jane and Stephen Sanders of
Jasper, Alabama. The Sanders’s entered the
car in the Highlands Classic Tour in 1991,
vivors.
where Hilda earned her name.
sis number 91999 was delivered on Febru-
Dethlefsen of The Werk Shop, one of the
According to BMW Classic Archives, chas-
ary 18, 1938, to the dealership Brennan & Schoth, in Berlin. Like many postwar im-
ports, the car likely came to the U.S. with a
returning soldier.
Its American journey spans decades and
several states. A 1970 Road & Track classi-
26
fied ad lists a rare “2-seater with jump seat”
In 1995, the Sanders sold Hilda to Don
premier BMW restoration firms. Don
showed the car at BMW CCA events and
even graced the cover of Roundel magazine
before selling her to the Lane Motor Muse-
um in 2003. Jeff Lane, founder of the muse-
um, attempted the drive from Chicago to
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Nashville himself — making it most of the
way before the engine threw a rod, and sidelined the car.
But Hilda proved resilient. After an engine
rebuild, she joined the 2004 BMW Vintage
of Classics, leading up to her appearance
at Saturday’s “Classics in the Park” show.
Museum Manager David Yando and his wife
Lora, who brought the car, was met with
enthusiastic greetings — especially from
Tour, traversing the East Coast from New
those with fond memories of Hilda.
out challenges either; about half way into
while photographing the Highlands Classic,
dissolved, and the rally was continued in a
group that included a Bugatti Type 35 and a
Jersey to South Carolina. This wasn’t with-
the rally, the main bearings had essentially
borrowed ’74 2002. A few years ago, the
starter failed during a leg of the Great Race,
but other than that, it’s been fairly trouble-
free.
Hilda returns to Highlands
The 2025 Highlands Motoring Festival
finally brought Hilda full circle. On Friday
evening, she joined the Main Street Parade
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
Steve Ham, who first saw the car in 1991
remembers her as the standout among a
Ferrari 166. “It was Hilda’s unique bodywork — especially that single rear seat — that
caught my attention,” he said. A few years ago, at the Atlanta Concours, he instantly recognized the car from across the field.
Knight and Richard Martorell, who had developed a close connection to the car during the 1991 Highlands Classic Tour were
delighted to see her as well.
Amy Lester, affectionately known as “the
Coupe Lady,” recalls the infamous Chimney
Rock Hillclimb. “Steve Sanders just floored it
— and won! We were racing for consistency,
and Hilda delivered.” She added with a
laugh, “Steve even let me drive her. I was
terrible at double-clutching.”
Scott and Fran Hughes have a more
recent connection to Hilda — they drove
her in one of the Lane Motor Museum’s
“Rally for the Lane” events. “It felt regal,”
Scott said.
Seeing Hilda again at HMF was a home-
coming not just for the car, but for the
community of enthusiasts who cherish her
legacy.
Welcome back, Hilda.
27
THE VIN TAGE
T
he Vintage finally opened registra-
E36 coupes, sedans, wagons, and convert-
were excited to bring their "modern" 3s for
Series, the E36, for the 2025 event.
E36/7 (Z3 convertible), and the E36/8 (Z3
Sturdy jests, “OK, let me explain the E36
tion to BMW's third-generation 3
E36s at the Vintage!? Say it isn't so!
It's true. Vintage mastermind Scott
Sturdy decided that 2025 would be the year
that E36s were allowed to register for this
gathering of classic BMWs. That included 28
A New Era at
ibles, as well as the E36/5 (compact), the
the first time.
coupe or "clownshoe"). While 2025 marked
thing. I have always told you all that we
3 Series (E21), which was The Vintage’s fea-
ited space. The venue this year has almost
the 50th anniversary of the first-generation
ture car for this event, it really felt more like
a celebration of the E36 as enthusiasts
couldn't allow them strictly because of limunlimited space, so I thought I would give it a try. But, if we go back to Hot Springs in
THE
U LT I M AT E
CLASSIC
The Vintage P RE SI DEN T ’ S ME SSAG E
2026, we may have to go back to the old
[chassis] cut-off, so take advantage of this while you can." Wait – E36s and a new
venue!? Yes, 2025, The Vintage’s 21st iteration, brought the event to its sixth venue since it started in 2004.
Given the devastation caused to Hot
Springs by Hurricane Helene in 2024, The
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
Story by mike Bevels Photographs by mike and Avery Bevels
Vintage 2025 moved to Hendersonville air-
the event. With over 255,000 miles on the
The third-generation 3 Series chassis finally
was required to ensure smooth sailing for
brethren on the show field – or runway in
bit of Vintage prep – convincing my eleven-
port, significantly increasing event space.
had a chance to shine with its classic
this case.
As such, I opted to pilot my five-speed
manual Cosmos Black 1998 M3 sedan to
odometer, some mechanical “Vintage prep” the 500-mile drive to Ashville, but the last
year-old daughter Avery to attend for her
second time – was the easiest. All I had to do was ask.
29
THE VIN TAGE A lot has happened since Avery last
attended in 2022, with one of those things being how much she has grown. Not only
does Avery finally fit in the women’s small
driving, it was nice to have dinner and decompress at our hotel.
Up bright and early on Friday morning,
Avery and I departed Asheville and headed
Vintage t-shirt we purchased in 2022, she’s
60 miles south to our first stop, Plant Spar-
ger seat. A week before our big road trip,
Carolina. There, we recreated a photo we had
also tall enough to ride in the front passen-
Avery says, “I’m looking forward to taking
photos and sitting in the front seat – it’ll be
easier to talk!” My eight-year-old son Carter is
still a bit skeptical about nearly 1,200 miles
and four full days of car-related activities, but
tanburg’s Zentrum museum in Greer, South taken during our 2022 Vintage trip, further illustrating how much she’s grown. It’s mo-
ments like these that make me realize time
moves far too quickly, but also makes things
like this road trip that much more special.
Jim Gerock’s 2002ti tribute. I’ll keep chipping away at him. Perhaps 2026
We spent the remainder of the morning a
As if the exhibit vehicles weren’t enough,
will be Carter’s first year at The Vintage.
mere 1.7 miles away at The Ultimate Driving
club member and Alpina aficionado Robert
before Vintage weekend we caravanned to
Excellence. Like previous years, the museum
Alpinas to be parked in a special display out-
Gerock and Kevin Grim. Jim drove his Riviera
day of Vintage weekend. The exhibit con-
Keeping with tradition, the Thursday
Asheville with BMW Classic CCA members Jim Blue 1969 2002ti tribute and Kevin drove his
Museum's latest exhibit, ALPINA: 60 Years of held a Vintage Open House event on the Fri-
sisted of 25 special Alpinas with detailed
new-to-him Sahara 1974 2002. A pair of Euro-
information placards for each. The walls and
the fun – new club member (as of Vintage
memorabilia and more informational plac-
White 1982 635CSi riding on a set of multi-
rating the manufacturer’s history. Our own
team of Wayne and Jahmari Gallimore,
one-of-sixty-six Alpina Roadster Limited
spec E24 635CSi’s from New York joined in on week) Steve Grocher brought his Alpine
piece BBS RS wheels, and the father-son
shared driving duties with Wayne’s Zinno
1985 635CSi. Miles melted away with Avery
riding shotgun and handling two-way radio duties, while we listened to an entertaining
audiobook, Sleeping Giants. After a full day of 30
ceiling of the museum were rich with Alpina
Tran had coordinated for 23 additional
side. Counting two more provided by BMW North America, there were 50 Alpinas on
museum grounds during the Vintage Open
House. Robert says, “It’s the largest gathering of Alpinas outside of Europe and Japan!”
Of the 50 Alpinas, two belong to Robert.
ards were dispersed throughout commemo-
His 1999 Alpina B10 V8 Touring (E39) partici-
Dirk de Groen was in attendance with his
display outside, and his 1996 Alpina B8 4.6
Edition, which is based on the BMW Z1, as
an exhibit vehicle. Dirk asked Avery if she’d
like to climb over the Alpina’s drop-down
doors to sit in the driver’s seat – how could
she possibly say “no” to that!
pated in the special Vintage Open House
Touring (E36) – that’s right, more E36s! – was showcased as part of the museum’s exhibit.
2025 marked Robert’s second time attending the Vintage. His first was in 2023, when he
drove his 1974 2002 Touring from Hermosa Beach, California to Asheville, with a few
THE
U LT I M AT E
CLASSIC
Avery at the end of the runway.
stops in between. That’s 2,564 miles one way! Now that he lives in Tennessee, it’s a bit closer.
We wrapped up our time at The Ultimate
Driving Museum and headed back to the
north side of Asheville for a – gasp! – non-car-
related activity, a ropes and zip-line course at Treetops Adventure Park. Spending an afternoon navigating obstacles 60 feet above the ground was a nice change of pace. Our
evening plans consisted of dinner at Sierra
Nevada Brewing Company, which happened
to be this year’s location for Friday night Vintage registration.
Saturday morning – the day of the big
show – brought early precipitation, but Vin-
tage attendees’ spirits were not dampened.
Left: John Hartge arriving at the Vintage.
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
31
THE VIN TAGE Fortunately, the rain let up just before the
9:00am start of the event. Hendersonville airport was gracious enough to suspend flights during the event, but that didn’t prevent
some Vintage attendees from getting air-
borne, though! The WNC Air Museum,
located within walking distance of the show,
was providing $29 helicopter rides. Avery and I were not brave enough to take flight, so we
stuck to the ground-related activities.
The new airport venue provided ample
space, with 3,000 feet of runway allowing for
600 classic BMWs – an unofficial tally – to park
as far as the eye could see. Scott Sturdy says,
“We sold out at 600 cars and had a waiting list
of about 70. It was beyond my expectations.”
Vendor tents and food trucks lined the grass
sections adjacent to the runway while the
stars of the show lined both sides of the
tarmac. When a rather large contingent of
classics arrived mid-morning, the long line of Bimmers waiting to park on the hot runway was a true test of their cooling systems.
In addition to our classic caravan crew of
Jim and Kevin, there were a number of other club members on the runway on Saturday.
John Hartge, who drove his 1974 2002 from
Hagerstown, Maryland, has attended over a
Kevin Grim drove the new-to-him Sahara 2002 from Alexandria to the Vintage.
dozen Vintages going back to the vineyard
In regard to the third-generation 3s on the
shade provided by the trees of Hot Springs,
want to see them “take the place of ‘real’ vin-
locations. While he and others missed the
he says, “I commend Scott Sturdy for finding an alternate location so we could enjoy the
Vintage event this year. I wish folks of the Hot
Kyle van Hoften flew in from California for a
up. There was also a 1930s coupe. In no way
enth Vintage. He says, “This spot did not dis-
his arms tired! This year marked Kyle’s sev-
did I sense the E36 took over.”
appoint. The concept of having old and active
Vintage and many thereafter, road-tripped
lining the lawn was unique. Visually, the cars
his S38B35-swapped 1972 3.0 CS from Chevy Chase, Maryland. Doug says, “I had mixed feelings about the Hendersonville airport
venue. I liked that Scott found an alternate
32
a smaller venue.”
full weekend of Vintage activities – and boy are
Doug Dolan, who was present at the first
on the back of a t-shirt.
tage cars…especially if The Vintage returns to
Springs area all the best recovering.” John
adds, “I enjoyed the variety of vehicles, E3 on
When all else fails, print your message
runway, Doug laughs and says he wouldn’t
prop planes slightly poking out of their homes stretched for the length of the runway made
for a different viewing experience. In this case, you knew when you had seen most of the
cars. In Hot Springs, you could do three laps
location since Hot Springs is still pretty devas-
and not even get to an entire area. Everyone
a long runway with no shade was not ideal.”
Springs and Asheville are still suffering from
tated. However, stretching the show out over
seemed to completely understand that Hot
THE
U LT I M AT E
CLASSIC
And Scott is not the only one calling it a suc-
cess as hundreds in the Vintage Facebook
group were clamoring with appreciation for
both the venue and volunteers. Of all the ad-
venturous activities Avery and I participated in over the long weekend, the show on Saturday was a stand-out for her. Avery says, “The peo-
ple were really nice! I kept seeing people introduce themselves, say where they’re from, and
talk about their cars. I liked the layout and that there were a lot of different classic BMWs.”
Despite grumblings over the years, it was
nice to see an overall acceptance of the E36 at The Vintage 2025. Speaking with some
long-time attendees, they recalled a similar sentiment of caution was shared when the
E30 chassis was first invited to attend, which
eventually became a welcome addition to the
show. With the new chassis came a lot of new faces, further illustrating that we’re not only ushering in a new era of classic cars, we’re also ushering in a new era of classic car enthusiasts.
the floods, so the fact that Scott secured Hen-
dersonville airport made it fantastic.”
Kyle adds, “I think the E36 was a welcome
addition regardless of the venue. It added to the attendance, so more people got more
exposure to more cars – that's a win. I heard
some E36 owners say they really hadn't ever seen a Bavaria or an E12. Had The Vintage
come and gone without welcoming E36s this year, that would still be true for those folks.”
As Saturday afternoon wound down, Scott
Sturdy reflected on the day and said, “I think
it went really well. I had an amazing group of volunteers from the CCA’s E30 chapter. They did an excellent job parking cars – that was
huge. All my volunteers at the check-in tent
and the front gate – amazing! The display of
Avery behind the wheel of the Z1 Alpina rLE.
cars – amazing. I'm super happy, and I'm calling it a success.”
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
33
East Coast Alpina Meet By Robert Tran
O
n May 15th, the BMW CCA Foun-
production will move in-house to BMW,
Ultimate Driving Museum for the
discontinued. The exhibition comprises
dation opened the doors of its
Alpina; 60 Years of Excellence exhibition.
This year marks not only the 60th anniver-
sary of Alpina as we have become to know
and the existing Alpina lineup will be twenty-five Alpina cars from private owners, Alpina, and BMW NA.
To celebrate the opening of the exhibi-
it, but also the last year of Alpina as an in-
tion, it made sense to organize a gathering
2025, Alpina's vehicle development and
The Vintage, the largest classic BMW gath-
dependent car manufacturer. At the end of
34
of Alpinas. As the opening coincided with
THE
U LT I M AT E
CLASSIC
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
35
EAS T COAST A LPI NA ME E T
1967 1600 Alpina
ering in the US, this would be the perfect
time to organize an East Coast Alpina Meet.
It turned out to be the largest gathering of
Alpina cars outside of Europe and Japan.
To make the event more than just a car
show, I knew that I had to come up with
something special. After much discussion,
BMW Manufacturing in Spartanburg agreed
to have us visit the Special Vehicle Opera-
tions (SVO) department where BMW Alpina
XB7’s are being built. A dinner with the
Alpina representatives from Germany and
the US was also part of the calendar. So
was a very interesting and informative
presentation by Alpina Classic
– this is how the company will
continue to operate – and a
focus group discussion, where
we as Alpina owners and en-
thusiasts could give our input
as to what we would like to see
Alpina do here in the USA. The
events were incredible success-
ful, and I was told that three of
the SVO tour participants put in orders for
an XB7!
One of the challenges going forward will
be for Alpina Classic to reach out to the nu-
merous Alpina owners in the USA, as ex-
cept for the Z8 Alpina, the more
contemporary B7s and B6 Grand Coupes, and the most recent XB7s, Alpinas have
been imported privately. Communicating
with owners will help Alpina Classic in determining as to which parts to (re-)manufacture. A challenge also faced by BMW
Touring.
36
roll in. Special Alpina parking was organ-
ized by the Foundation, and we had twenty-
five Alpina. So, that day, we had a total of
fifty Alpina cars on the grounds of The Ulti-
mate Driving Museum. The oldest car was
the 1967 BMW 1600-2 modified by Alpina and was featured in the December 1967
issue of Car and Driver. The furthest driven
was a 2003 Alpina B10 V8S Touring from
Calgary, Canada. My 1996 Alpina B8 4.6
Touring (E36) is part of the exhibition, and I
Classic. It was suggested that Alpina Classic
drove my 1999 Alpina B10 V8 Touring (E39).
it oversees the distribution of parts itself,
Alpina meets on the east and the west
starts a registry of Alpina owners and that
robert Tran with his 1999 Alpina B10 V8
Saturday morning, Alpina cars started to
rather than rely on independent distributors.
As the exhibit grand opening began on
I am looking forward to organizing more
coasts, haven been assured by the repre-
sentatives of Alpina Classic of their contin-
ued support.
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Northwest Vintage BMW Gathering PACI FI C N ORT H WE S T
W
By John Margherita hen Dirk asked for volunteers to be area representatives for the
BMW Classic Car Club of Amer-
My wife and I run a Willamette Valley wine
tour business, so I set out to find a winery
willing to host the event. Enter Dominio IV
ica, I decided to take the plunge and volun-
Wines in Carlton, Oregon. They already had
culture in Oregon and Washington, but
14th and generously offered the space
teer. We have a thriving vintage BMW
there were no events specifically for classic
BMWs. My first attempt to remedy that was to organize a Vintage BMW Gathering.
a Father’s Day Cookout scheduled for June around their production building for our group. The inaugural Northwest Vintage
BMW Gathering was officially on. With my
limited graphic design skills, I created a flyer and spread the word among Pacific North-
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
The margherita Family: John, Chloe, Steven, michele, and Cassie the dog.
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PACI FI C N ORT H WE S T
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west BMW Classic Car Club of America
resentation from Washington State, with
Feedback like, “Thank you for organizing
that drove more than three hours from
our area,” reinforced my belief that this
that area in the near future.
The response was incredibly encouraging.
this,” and “We really need events like this in could grow into a great annual tradition—
and help attract new BMW CCCA members
over ten cars making the trip, including five
Seattle. I am hoping to host events closer to It was a fantastic day, and while the
Northwest Vintage BMW Gathering will be
in the Pacific Northwest.
an annual event, it will not be the only one.
BMWs, and as June 14th approached, I felt
Pacific Northwest BMW CCCA driving tours
The gathering was limited to pre-1995
optimistic about the turnout. In the end,
over thirty-five cars showed up. The weather was perfect—but the people and the cars
I am looking forward to organizing more and get-togethers in the months ahead. A big thank you to everyone who
attended the inaugural Northwest Vintage
were even better. BMW CCCA members in
BMW Gathering, especially to my incredibly
with their ex-Goetz Pfafflin 1956 502 Cabrio-
in cars as they arrived. Dominio IV Wines
attendance included Ted and Andrea Davis
let and their recently acquired 1966 2000CS,
Robert Gurley and his freshly restored 2002
Baur Targa, Ralph Harding and his 1991 E30
M3, Joe Barthlow and his 1974 2002, and
Lee Harmon, who brought his 3.0 CS all the
way from the Seattle area.
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
I was especially pleased to see strong rep-
members and on social media.
supportive wife, Michele, who helped check loved having us and are excited to host us again next year. They have room for twice
the number of cars, and I have already gath-
ered valuable feedback to make next year’s event even better.
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REST ORAT ION
Restoring Felix Graf von Spiegel’s 315/1 By Dirk de Groen
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I
n earlier issues of The Ultimate Classic, I wrote about my 1934 BMW 315/1, the very car
that took part in the VI. Internationale Alpenfahrt in 1934 and a number of other rallies
in Austria and Germany that year. Last year, to celebrate the 90th anniversaries of
both the 315/1 and BMWs victory on the Alpenfahrt, we brought the car back to Europe to take some photos in the Alps and to participate in the Amsterdam-to-Paris Rally.
The plan after the rally was to give the car a cosmetic refresh and return it to its original
two-tone grey color scheme. But, as these things go, the project turned out to be a bit
Gudrun Muschalla
more involved than expected.
83nd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
41
REST ORAT ION Like all prewar BMWs, the 315/1 has a
steel chassis with a wooden body frame
mounted on top. The wood holds the body panels in place. Not surprisingly, after 90 years, that wood needed some attention. I already knew the doors were sagging
and difficult to open because the hinges, screwed into the old wood, were loose
and couldn’t be tightened anymore. The
wood in the rear lid – the one that covers the spare wheel – was in even worse
shape. It had been patched up before, and was literally falling apart.
So I turned again to Andreas Freuden-
berger, the prewar BMW expert in Bavaria who had done the mechanical restoration back in 2019. Wasting no time, Andreas
started removing the body panels right
after the rally to see how bad things were, and if any parts of the wooden frame could still be saved.
The answer came quickly: no. The wood
was too far gone to be worth repairing.
Some parts had been eaten away by fungi
and woodworms. We needed a new frame. There used to be craftsmen in Germany
who could build these wood frames the
old-fashioned way, but most of them have
since retired or passed away. Some frames are still made in Eastern Europe, but
according to Andreas, they don’t fit cor-
rectly. Luckily, he had an unused ash
wood frame that had been built in Austria 30 years ago and had just been sitting in
storage ever since.
Once the new wooden frame was in-
stalled, and the original body panels, after
minor modifications were reattached, it
was time for paint. The car had originally
been delivered in grey, and period photos show that all 315/1s had a two-tone paint
job. The exact shades of grey weren’t doc-
umented, so I had the freedom to choose.
I saw a small caravan in Germany with a
two-tone grey scheme I really liked, asked the owner for the paint codes, and we used those for the car.
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At the same time, the seats, door panels,
and kick panels were reupholstered in dark red leather, and all the bright work was
re-chromed. The result turned out beautifully – a nice contrast to the grey exterior. The goal was to have the car ready for
the Kitzbüheler Alpenrallye in early June. Once again, Andreas and his team came
through. The freshly restored Felix Graf von Spiegel 315/1 was delivered to
Kitzbühel the day before the rally, and we made it to the starting line – right on
time. Felix would have been pleased.
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
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Kitzbüheler Alpenrallye by Dirk de Groen
Photos by Alexander Scheuber and Daniel Nikodem
dirk and Alexandra de Groen on the Grossglockner Alpenhochstrasse.
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
45
KIT ZBÜ HE LE R A LP E N RA L LYE
don Law in his 327 80 HP Cabriolet.
Below: Christian Collenberg's freshly
restored 2002 Voll Cabriolet.
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dreams on Four Wheels
The 38th Kitzbühel Alpenrallye was not
only a resounding success with around 150
delighted participants and countless enthu-
siastic spectators—it was a true tribute to
the enduring allure of the automobile. The
most exclusive and diverse starting grid in
years captivated fans across the Alpine
region.
Beyond All Expectations
Not only did the participants exceed
every expectation—the weather played its
part too. The Alpenrallye began on Thurs-
day under sunny skies with the traditional
prologue toward the St. Johann airfield. The
Air Independence Airfield Challenge, held on the closed-off runway, offered unre-
stricted driving pleasure and a thrilling first
test of skill.
Friday once again proved to be the literal
highlight of the rally. A brand-new route
culminating at the Franz-Josephs-Höhe on
the Grossglockner provided participants
with even more time on Austria’s highest—
and arguably most beautiful—mountain
pass. The final stage on Saturday began
once again in Kitzbühel, one of the south-
ernmost points of the route. The journey
led participants around Lake Chiemsee and
along the picturesque Tatzelwurmstraße
back into Tyrol.
By Saturday afternoon, when the vehicles
rolled back into Kitzbühel, expectations
were once again surpassed: the closed-off city center overflowed with fans.
Hundreds of car enthusiasts gathered to welcome the
The Kitzbüheler Alpenrallye is a regularity rally for classic cars, emphasizing timing precision, reliability, and driver/navigator coordination rather than speed. It is both a competitive and a social event, appealing to those who love classic motoring and mountain roads.
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
nearly 150 cars with a
celebratory finish worthy of the occasion.
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KIT ZBÜ HE LE R A LP E N RA L LYE
regularities be damned.
don Law was looking for
speed in the mountains.
There are the serious teams, the folk with well-prepared cars (classic stopwatches, rally timers, tripmasters, calibrated odometers), experienced navigators with rally computers and route charts, and a strong desire to win. Precision to them means hitting time controls to the second. They practice, and compete in several rallies each year. Then there is the social crowd. These entrants join for the experience: beautiful Alpine drives, camaraderie, great meals, and the atmosphere of historic motorsport. They're still following the rally rules, but not sweating over a 3-second penalty. We are part of the latter. – Dirk de Groen 48
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rallying in the Alps.
Sporting Excellence Across All Classes
As in years past, the demanding regulari-
ty tests were held across four competition
The Exotic class—open to exceptional ve-
hicles without year-of-manufacture restric-
tions, continues to grow. This year, Thies
classes. Participants demonstrated their
Bruhn and Rudolph Knepper took the class
categories, tackling up to 17 timed sections.
jury also selected the event’s most beautiful
skills in Sport Plus, Sport, Classic, and Exotic Overall victory—as well as first place in
the Sport Plus category—went to the sea-
soned duo Alexander Linz and Michaela
Beznaus in their Alfa Romeo Giulia Cara-
binieri, repeating their 2023 success. In the
win in their 1989 Porsche Speedster. The vehicle: a striking, dark green Ferrari 330
GTS owned by Frank Koydl.
Three BMW Classic Car Club of America
members participated in the Alpenrallye,
Christian Collenberg from Zurich, Switzer-
pleased see the de Groen’s 315/1. The first
owner of that car, Felix Graf von Spiegel
zum Diesenberg – an enthusiastic gentle-
man rally driver – was the vice chairman of
the Austrian Automobile Club in the 1930s,
and had his second home in Kitzbühel.
There were other BMWs on the rally, a 507,
a 327, several 02s and E9 coupes.
If you have always dreamed of rallying
your vintage BMW in the Alps, this well-or-
ganized event in the upscale town of
Sport category, which allows electronic tim-
land in a freshly-restored BMW 2002 Cabri-
Kitzbühel will not disappoint.
secured first place with their 250 SL. Ulrich
327/28 Cabriolet, and Dirk and Alexandra
www.alpenrallye.at
ing, Burckhard Müller and Fabian Mohr
and Petra Knieling triumphed in the Classic class with a 1970 Mercedes-Benz Pagoda.
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
olet, Don Law from Boston in a BMW
de Groen in their BMW 315/1. The Austrian
For more information,visit their website:
organizers and spectators were particularly 49
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Trying New Things by Eric Zagrocki
O
n June 28th, our club members
ter members like Jeff Meanor to join on
& Coffee group at its Warren-
open to all special interest cars and the
joined the local Pittsburgh Cars
dale venue and invited local classic BMW owners to join us. Meeting at the Cars & Coffee event reduced the pressure of
gathering everyone for an early morning start. Those arriving early were able to
enjoy a donut and walk the venue. Oth-
ers arrived just before our planned drive, and we recruited a few Allegheny Chap-
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
site. Like many C&C events, this one is
Portersville, PA. Bill Permar joined in his
E30 M3, Ken Cheng brought a low
mileage E24 Euro M6, and I was in my
cars on display ranged from Ferraris to
E28 M5. We had the early Motorsport
much attention our classic BMWs at-
imported E30 325ix Touring, an unusual
Land Cruisers. I was impressed by how
tracted given some of the other high dollar cars present.
At the designed time, we formed a
conga line and departed. We took the long way to Paul Wegweiser’s shop in
cars covered. Tim Swisher brought his
sighting in our area, and Chris Williams
brought his 2002 which has been in the
family since new. Of course, Paul pro-
vided a wonderful collection of personal
and customer cars for us to enjoy.
51
When Paul bought this 1969 2002,
it was in less than good condition.
WEGWEISER
A view of the workshop.
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Paul realized a lifetime dream when he
opened Wegweiser Classic BMW Services. He focuses on 2002 and E9 coupe repair
and freely shares his passion for the cars of
the 1960s and 1970s. It is fair to say that if it has an M10 engine, you may find it in
Paul’s shop. Paul gave us a tour of his cur-
rent projects which include a 1600 Cabrio-
let which arrived in boxes, several 2002s
which were in for repairs and upgrades,
and the former Elliott Schnackenberg 2000
A peek under the hood of
Jim van Orsdol's 2000 tilux.
TiLux sedan currently owned by members
Jim and Charlene Van Orsdol. Seeing the
TiLux at the shop – in for carburetor con-
version work – was a wonderful surprise as
I had last seen Jim, Charlene and their
Neue Classe sedan on the Vermont tour in
2021. The car looks great, and Jim has been
spending time in making it “his own”!
After our tour, we set off for the nearby
Ben Franklin Taproom & Grille where we had
a nice lunch. The staff at Ben Franklin was
very accommodating. As we dined, I think we
convinced a few of our guests to join the club. After lunch, I realized that in my haste to
get everyone to lunch on time, I forgot my
cooler at Paul’ shop. Paul was heading back
to the shop, so I joined him. As we discussed
the morning activities and other events, I casually mentioned that I had never driven a 2002. Without hesitation, Paul handed me
the keys to his ’69 sitting outside. I could not
pass up the opportunity.
Like some of Paul’s other 2002s, this one
can be described as a rescue. I am stunned
by the as-found photos. The car sat for 38
years with holes in the body, a seized
motor and a blown transmission. Many
would have sent the car to the crusher, but
Paul restored the car into a daily driver that
“Paul realized a lifetime dream when he opened Wegweiser Classic BMW Services. He focuses on 2002 and E9 coupe repair and freely shares his passion for the cars of the 1960s and 1970s.”
has a rally car feel. He rebuilt the motor,
first just to get the car running, and then to
upgrade its performance. Paul estimates
that the motor currently makes 140 to 150
hp and he encouraged me more than once
to push the car past 7000 rpm! I learned
long ago to tread lightly when in someone
else’s car, especially when that car is over
50 years old, has an unfamiliar pedal box
and rain is falling. That said, it was easy to
tell that the little car has great torque and
handles like a go-cart! The short drive left
me wanting more seat time in a 2002. Paul,
thank you not only for hosting our event,
but also for providing the highlight of my
weekend! 83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
53
Ziggy’s Farm
DE LAWA R E VA L L E Y CH A P T E R
O
A N N U A L B I R T H D AY PA R T Y
n May 10, 2025, about 75 classic
when I went looking for a windshield
Farm" for Ziggy's annual birth-
with a brand new one in its original box.
BMWs assembled at "Ziggy's
day party. Ziggy owns a well-respected shop in Doylestown, PA that has been
there for as long as anyone can remem-
ber. It could probably be dated by the oldest 2002 part resting in his incredible
parts stash. And I can attest to its depth
54
wiper motor four years ago. He appeared
A member of our local Rocket Dog
group, Lance Sabouni won people's choice
with his Chaminoix 3.0CS. The prize? A
But I digress, it was his party, so of course
large Continental Tire Clock that someone
a singer who sang Happy Birthday along
were a couple of other marques present,
there was food and a cake, a guitarist and with the dozens of well-wishers. The
weather was perfect, the variety of classic BMWs was amazing.
suggested he hang in the bedroom. There but it was a classic BMW day for sure. - Steve O’Neill
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BM W NO RT H A ME R I CA’ S 5 0 T H A N N I VE RSARY
Winner of Best BmW was a rare turbo
model 2002 owned by Gary Bossert.
CONCOURS on the PALISADES By Denis Glennon. Photos by Klaus Schnitzer
The 4th annual Concours on The Palisades
was held in Fort Lee, New Jersey on Sunday, July
13. Theme this year was the celebration of BMW North America’s 50th Anniversary. BMWs span-
ning all five decades of BMW NA’s 50 years were aligned on Main Street in the center of town from pre-1975 through 2025 all parked by
decade. BMW NA participated and generously displayed their latest range of gas, hybrid and
electric models. Approximately 3,000 spectators passed through the event displaying 120 cars of which 40+ BMWs.
Winner of Best BMW appropriately was a
2002 – the icon that started it all for BMW in
North America – in this case the very rare turbo model, owned by Gary Bossert. David de Luca’s 1974 3.0CSL won in its pre-1975 class.
Best pre-1975 BmW, a 3.0CSLowned by david de Luca.
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
Mark your calendar for next year: Sunday, July
12, 2026, Concours of the Palisades, Ft. Lee, NJ.
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1939 328 Wendler Cabriolet (85419) restored in early 1990s by freuden-
berger. Sold Broad Arrow Villa d'Este $266,515. Well bought. Now for sale by
German dealer for $446,000.
1971 3.0CSL (1 of 169 carb). Non-original color. Needs TLC. Sold on BAT for $170,500.
1972 2002tii in colorado orange. Very nice car in excellent condition. Sold on 1965 1800 TISA, ex-Pat deWitt car. sold on BAT for $99,750.
1969 2000CA. Solid car, recently services, ready to enjoy. Sold on BAT for
BAT $54,600
1972 2002tii. Restored, rebuilt 2.2 liter engine. Sold on BAT for $91,350,
$11,812. Very well bought.
that's a $24k drop from three years ago.
1971 3.0CSL (1 of 169 carb) faux-bat mobile, 3.6 liter replacement engine,
1972 Bavaria. Baikal blue of saddle leather. Refurbished. Sold on BAT for
rough condition. Sold $125,000 on BAT.
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
$57,750
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CLASS IC M A RK E T WATC H
1973 3.0CSi in Baikal blue. Beautiful. Restored car. Excellent auction on BAT
1989 E30 M3 Cecotto (1 of 500) with 123k kms sold on Broad Arrow Villa
where it sold for $131,250.
d'Este for $106,606.
1973 3.0CSL Batmobile. Sold on Cars and Bids for $381,000
1990 E30 M3 Sport Evo with 122k kms Sold BAT $165,500.
1974 2002 Turbo. Sold Mecum Indy for $181,500.
1991 Z1 Alpina RLE with 30k kms. Very nice car. Sold Broad Arrow Villa
1980 M1 Procar body package with 91k kms sold at Broad Arrow Villa d'Este $698,154.
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
d'Este for market-correct$133,258.
2000 Z8 with 4,900 miles in desirable Topaz blue over creme-black.
Ex George foreman. Sold on BAT for $309,750.
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ADVERTISE YOUR COMPANY HERE
Contact Dirk de Groen ddegroen@yahoo.com
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
61
T H E
F I N E
P R I N T
The BmW Classic Car Club of America, Inc. (the Club) is a Florida not-for-
profit corporation. The Club is officially recognized by BMW and is a member
of the Classic and Type Section of the International Council of BMW Clubs.
The Club is an independent organization and not affiliated with the BMW
Group or BMW of North America. It is the only official BMW club in America solely dedicated to classic BMW automobiles.
The Club’s mission is to promote the interest in, the ownership of, and
preservation and restoration of classic BMWs, to encourage their use and vis-
ibility, to provide a forum for the exchange of information related to classic
BMWs, and to foster social contacts among its members. Ownership of a clas-
sic BMW is strongly encouraged but not a requirement. The annual member-
ship dues are payable in January of each year and are published on the club’s website www.bmwccca.com.
The Club issues a quarterly newsletter (The Ultimate Classic) which will be
provided in electronic and/or paper form to all members in good standing.
Material sent in for publication remains the property of the Club. Articles pub-
lished in the newsletter may not be published anywhere else without specific
written authorization from the president of the club. All ideas, opinions, and
suggestions expressed in regard to technical or any other matters are solely
those of the authors, and no authentication, endorsement, or guarantee is
expressed or implied. The Club assumes no liability for any of the information
contained herein.
The Ultimate Classic is produced by Parabolica Publishing LLC, specialists in the creation of automotive-themed publications. cmannis@parabolicapub.com
C L U C
C O N T A C T
OWN THE BADGE
BmW Classic Car Club of America Dirk de Groen • 1201 Manati Avenue Coral Gables, FL 33146 (305) 801-7010 • ddegroen@yahoo.com www.bmwccca.com
62
Welcome New members Kai Xing Winchester, MA
Scott Andrews Petaluma, CA
Raine Mantysalo finland
Joel Barbarito Midland Park, NJ
Curt Richards Lexington, KY
Dee Dhaliwal Diablo, CA
Patrick Willcutts West Hartford, CT Bill Brown Traverse City, MI
Mark Helseth Minneapolis, MN Jeffrey Joseph New orleans, LA
John Niedernhofer Del Mar, CA Philip Lucas Cincinnati, oH
Shawn Bramble Methuen, MA
Stephen Grocher Mount Vernon, NY
Grille badges are available at $30 each, including postage within the united States. Contact dirk de Groen at ddegroen@yahoo.com to place your order.
Jeff Scholler orange, CA
Paul Hogan Cincinnati, oH
Jeff Whitcher University place, WA Michael Bannister Tallahassee, fL Darko Spoljaric Seattle, WA
Dale Dasker Lake oswego, oR
Maris Mangulis Cranberry Twp, PA
Thomas Magno Winchester, MA
Thomas Vance Clemmons, NC
Evan Bockelman Camas, WA
VISIT WWW.BmWCCCA.COm TO JOIN THE
U LT I M AT E
CLASSIC
83rd EDITION • SUMMER 2025
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