Restorative Devastation

 

Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel isn't what you expect

Words: Toni Marshall

The project is over, most of the bills are paid and I am now the proud owner of a restored classic. How am I feeling about this? Well, initially ... devastated.

The reason for this initial devastation was the realisation that the best part of my car restorer’s journey has come to a close. The anticipation, frustration and the horror of those 'surprise' costs gave a delicious mix of emotions that bubbled to the surface each time I visited the workshop to measure the progress of my dream car.
Like the blonde in the T-Bird in American Graffiti, the project had always been a vision just a few more moments and a green light away from becoming reality.

Now reality has arrived and the stark realisation of driving a 37-year-old car around a modern and busy city was damn frightening. If I am absolutely honest the virgin journey was shrouded in dread and disappointment. What had I done! All that time, emotion and money! This thing is nothing but an old bomb dressed in shiny new silver paint! How did I get here?

I had bought the 'project' as a shell. The motor was in it, which went well once a charged battery was attached, but the greater part of the car was spread across two warehouses in bags, boxes and not so carefully covered piles.
The last two weeks of the restoration were a blur of activity, and given work commitments much of the final reassemble was completed without me available to join in, in the exciting climax of nearly 70-odd weeks of work. A short phone call announced that the project had been sent to the local BMW dealership for a warrant and it was there that I saw her 'complete' and in her final dress.

With almost petulant reluctance she fought till the last minutes by gaining her WOF after demanding a new timing chain - duly sent from the historic division of BMW Germany at a cost that made my partner’s eyes bleed!
With the insurance organised, and registration and warrant proudly displayed on the windscreen, the moment I had been waiting for had arrived. It was with some serendipitous irony that the project had given herself to me on my birthday. With my special day allowing time off from both work and family, I arrived at lunchtime to spoil myself with an afternoon of touring.

And it was at that moment that reality beat down upon me! The 'dream' rattled, groaned and offered nothing but reluctance as we navigated our way towards the outskirts of the city. The wipers would not return to their starting position, the radio aerial failed to raise - so no radio – petrol leaked in the trunk, the sun-roof jammed open and the glove box dropped open every time we encountered even the slightest bump!
Only a deep breath away from bursting into tears I gave myself a stern talking to and decided to at least try to form a relationship with the damn thing!

And then it happened. Once I reached the open road and I was able to give her clean air to breath, room to move and the freedom to extend her 'legs' suddenly everything came together. The old classic sat confidently, if not some what smugly on the road. She rode with grace and confidence, while exuding a serious dose of glamour.
While I may have been imagining it, I am sure that at each intersection a good number of eyes were upon her lean flanks and sleek lines. As my confidence in her grew, her self- assurance grew and the purity of the driving experience washed over all of my senses.

Oh yes, this was just how I imagined her to be, an aging but still glowing rock star! Amongst the cacophony of rattles and wind noise I am sure I heard her clatter, "Happy Birthday Toni!"
While a good number of creases most certainly still need to be ironed out, and no amount of romanticism can hide the fact that I am the proud owner of what can only be described as a very tidy old car, I can still declare proudly that I am in love! Madly, deeply in love!

Note: The project is currently at the dealership on display, very proud moment!
Note 2: This is most convenient as she is also awaiting the arrival of yet another eye-bleeding part from the BMW historic parts department!