Google BMW 2002 on Craiglist and what you get is 2002 BMW’s, not what you
asked for. So many of the yuppie influenced car groupies who fawn over BMW’s
don’t know that it was the 2002, the car, not the year that put BMW on the map.
Yes many know of the famous 507, the motorcycles that preceded the cars, and
maybe the airplanes that preceded the motorcycles-banned from manufacture after
WW I, but ask around, who knows what a BMW 2002 was, or is?
BMW was just another obscure imported brand in the fifties and sixties by
Max Hoffman. But in 1967 BMW put out a sedan with a 2000 cc motor, and when
reviewed by David E. Davis of Car and Driver, “BMW blows my mind,” and named as
one of the Ten Best Cars in the World by Road and Track, America took notice.
It was a powerful small sedan with a willing engine, used for SCCA races and
like for my Dad, going to work. Who was never a car guy, I grew up in a
household of Ramblers, but when he was told about it being a Ten Best, and
priced at $2500 for the 1600 version, bought a 1969. Which he sold to me in
1972 for trade in value, $1900 when buying a 1972 2002. For $4000, as with
demand the price went up. Purchased at Markham Motors in Bernardsville, NJ,
where the cars were referred to by their owners, the salesman being Herman Van
Putten. Oh the days of a German car being sold to German man by a German
salesman. Who smoked his cigarette like the European he was. And when Mr.
Mohn’s BMW was called for, the lot boy even knew just which car. Try that today
at any mega dealer, where even with numbers they get lost. It was personal back
then, even to the point of how we flashed our high beams at each other like
bikers wave. They were then and are now a remarkable automobile, funny how we
overlook the poor quality control, the German rubber disintegrating, the turn
signal on the right of the steering wheel, and poor heat and ventilation. The
ignition key that had the bending head, and being able only to unlock it from
the driver’s door. A huge trunk that could be left unlocked, and at 25 mpg for
premium, uniquely German. Welcomed and admired among sports car groups, even
though since the top didn’t fold down, it could never be a true sports car like
an MGB or a FIAT Spider. But just one pedal to the medal and all was forgotten,
as many a Corvette or other Muscle Car would beat it off the line, but end up
chasing them after the first curve. They handled, and long before becoming the
ultimate driving machine, we were a small group of enthusiasts, who knew what we
were driving. Constantly reminding the unitiated that BMW didn’t stand for
“British what?” And today they build SUV’s...and now you know the rest of the
story.
1968 BMW 2002
TURN YOUR HYMNALS TO 2002–DAVID E. DAVIS JR. BLOWS HIS MIND ON THE LATEST FROM BMW.
Like many things in history, when passed on from generation to generation,
they get edited for personal use. From cars to God, it seems we want to set the
pace and influence the attitude. Hence the BMW 2002 being forgotten, and
scripture being misinterpreted. With so much babbling going on about
interpretation the truth gets lost, rewritten, or forgotten. Some blame it on
God starting at the Tower of Babel, thinking God chose to confuse man so he
wouldn’t and couldn’t take over. We had become a proud race at the time, but
God in his love for us saw it different, and in changing how we communicate with
each other, was really protecting ourselves from ourselves. Remember it was God
who said “let us go down,” Jesus was there along with the spirit. In the scheme
of humanity, we value things instead of a relationship with God, and when they
fail, we blame him, or turn on him, if we even trusted him in the first place.
But as they created one thing another problem arose, and things were getting
beyond their control. Which put them at odds, and being unable to fix the new
problems, created more problems. Unlike Ronald Reagan’s famous scary words, “I’m
from the government and I’m here to help,” God was there to help, just his way
not theirs. And a people who where in control were really out of control. And
God fixed them....which made them spread out and wander, another Genesis
instance of when his people faced opposition, the gospel spread out, much like
today. Yes they complained to each other, but no one understood, so they went
out, something not part of their plan, but part of God’s. And the gospel went
forth. How many times was Jesus forced to flee, the disciples didn’t get it,
but he did, and they ended up places they didn’t know of, didn’t want to go, or
wouldn’t have gone. And it still occurs today....
The truth is we are not God enough still to handle our own problems. So we
pray, devise our own ways, learn to cheat and steal, and soon end up worse than
we were to start. With confusion of the language, no one could tell if the
other was lying or not, and so had to turn to God. Sound familiar? In our
confusion he was really trying to save us. Just like the Jews refused Jesus,
and like he is today, his love for us overcomes any misunderstanding, where sin
abounds his love even more abounds, and by his spirit we can come to Jesus and
be saved. Knowing the language of love, the Bible, as he inspired it, not as
men see it. When we see that our lives are not about us, but all about Jesus,
the language of his love becomes real. It takes the spirit to reveal the
mysteries of Jesus, not man to misinterpret them. Jesus came to rescue us from
man made religion, lest we forget. Man is incapable of being God, but still
tries to be a god. And the need for Jesus is revealed in each foolish
attempt.
So let me leave you with a question, one all Christians should know. But
yet the story gets twisted on Easter Sunday. So much emphasis is put on the
cross on Easter, how many truly know it was Jesus’ resurrection that made him
unique? How many wear crosses trying to be Christian, when it was an empty cave
that guarantees resurrection for us also? How many wear an empty cave on a
chain around their neck? So what is Easter really all about? Got you
thinking...and of course you cannot have an Easter without Good Friday.
And you cannot have the Ultimate Driving Machine without the BMW 2002.
Real car guys know this, headlines proclaimed it, and those of us there lived
it. But we still get confused, so try Googling BMW 2002 and see how many 2002
BMW’s come up for sale. People still babble today, they still cannot
communicate properly. It takes the spirit to unite us in unity. 2002 the car,
not the year, Jesus Christ, the son of God, not religion. Sadly few know that
the 2002 started it all, even sadder that Jesus started it all. Of course if
you drive a Honda you know nothing of what I speak, but you will still be in one
Accord....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com