Allow me to introduce myself.

"Built BMW Tough" (jwogan)
11/16/2013 at 19:22 • Filed to: None

My name is James. I export new/exotic/classic cars as well as maintain the role of sales manager at the #1 new car broker firm in northern CA. That means I am in charge of inventory, be it consignment or low-mileage used cars, in addition to heading up new/used domestic and international sales. I'm also a student, but that's irrelevant.

My Oppo posts will mainly focus on cars that have caught my attention, be it a new car that is something special that we deliver or a consignment car, or even something cool/rare/awesome that a local rich car guy drives in when he comes to talk shop. We see some pretty neat stuff. As of this exact moment, in addition to the borderline boring or mundane cars that are have sitting around, we have the following:

1957 Chevrolet 210 Coupe, completely restored/mild restomod ($50k paint job!)

1965 Buick Riviera restomod

1995 Porsche 911 <3

Caterham Seven with 200hp/1210lb (owners/boss car very quick)

2000 BMW 528i with only 37k miles. It's beautiful.

For my inaugural post, I thought I would show something that caught my attention:

Let me preface this blog by stating that I am not a fan of most classic domestic cars. Never have been. Give me a pre-73 911 any day of the week. However, this 1962 Ford T-bird coupe has wormed it's way into my heart. Forget the hideous color and hubcaps, and the fact that it's slow and the power windows don't work and it has a misfire. This car is cool.

Check out the front end;

I'm pretty sure that bullbar-looking bit is only there to prevent the car from looking like it has a crippling overbite. Now, it's merely a scowl, which is better. Scowl = good, overbite = bad.

Another neat thing is the lack of Ford emblems anywhere; the car sports only Thunderbird emblems filled in with a material resembling turquoise.

The design of the emblem looks vaguely Native American. I don't know if that was intentional or not, and it makes no sense to me. I do like it, still. It's not my favorite exterior detail, though. These are:

DANGER ZONE! These are supposed to resemble afterburners and my god they did it, and did it well. Nowadays, it would be considered a bit too much, but the 60's were the jet age, and this car says it better than anything else. I love it. Fuck those spats over the rear wheel, though.

The interior takes it to a whole new level. Insert the Jetsons theme:

This car has quite possibly one of the coolest dashboard and center console combos I have ever seen. Simple, yet futuristic. I wish Ford still made interiors that look this good, actually. BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

This car was made for the comfort of everyone, even those with cheeseburger guts! The steering wheel slides out of the way so you can keep those crumbs on your belly - you know, the ones you were saving for later. How awesome is that? Once you've slid your fat (or skinny, or in-between) ass behind that giant tiller, you get to gaze upon these pieces of art:

Those are some of the coolest gauges I have ever seen on a driveable car (although the 2014 IS350 F-Sport had a cool cluster too). I can't wait for the car to get the brightwork detailed so I can really feel the ambience the car was designed to have.

So it sucks to drive - who cares. Sitting in this car, even doing the dumbest errands, is an event. The natural light coming through to the cabin is wonderful, as long as your eyes aren't being violated by the sun. This car is just plain cool.

I don't know when I will post again; maybe tomorrow, maybe next week. It may be a spotlight, it may be a spotted post with a bunch of cars, or it may be something along the lines of "WHY WOULD ANYONE BUY THIS PIECE OF SHIT?"

Either way, you'll be seeing more from me. I'll leave you with this:

DISCUSSION (25)

Tom McParland > Built BMW Tough
11/16/2013 at 19:30

Hey there! Great post...as you may or may not know I run a business called Automatch Consulting. I research, locate, and negotiate on behalf of buyers. Here are some of my posts relating to this. Anyway, I hope we can work together sometime!

Spaceball-Two > Built BMW Tough
11/16/2013 at 19:33

Gonna need a pic of the Buick for sure!

Makoyouidiot > Built BMW Tough
11/16/2013 at 19:34

Sweeeet T bird. Honestly the only American classic I would have is a Corvair. But that's a classy car still.

Built BMW Tough > Tom McParland
11/16/2013 at 19:42

Thanks!

As for cooperation, absolutely! I always look forwards to meeting new contacts, especially if we can help each other out.

Built BMW Tough > Spaceball-Two
11/16/2013 at 19:43

Ask and you shall receive. Personally, the wheels I am not a fan of, but the rest of the car is on point.

Kinja'd!!!

Tom McParland > Built BMW Tough
11/16/2013 at 19:43

Most of my clients are on the east coast, but as my business grows I get more an more from across the country. However, I sometimes do get people that want something special and rare, so you would be a great contact.

Built BMW Tough > Tom McParland
11/16/2013 at 19:45

That definitely would work out - I know how everyone loves the rust-free west coast cars. I actually have a few HD V-Rods going on a boat to Germany this week via a port in NJ. My first sale was a 1988 911 Commemorative Edition that I found and brought here from New York.

Tom McParland > Built BMW Tough
11/16/2013 at 19:49

Hey when you get a chance please drop me a line with your full name and contact info and any dealership info that would be helpful. That way I can save it for later. :D

I'm Tom McParland

AutomatchConsulting@gmail.com

$kaycog > Built BMW Tough
11/16/2013 at 19:50

I thoroughly enjoyed the T-Bird pics. When I came to your last picture, I almost fell off my chair. Absolutely gorgeous GT! *sigh*

desertdog5051 > Built BMW Tough
11/16/2013 at 19:51

Navajo, Hopi, Zuni meld. More Hopi, Zuni. Blatant advertising. But nice cars.

Built BMW Tough > $kaycog
11/16/2013 at 19:54

We delivered a red one too, with white stripes. It was long before I started working here and I haven't found any good pictures of it yet. Fun fact: it was the first Ford GT delivered in northern California. Not as fun fact: it was wrecked by the owner a couple months later :(

Built BMW Tough > desertdog5051
11/16/2013 at 19:56

I'm not here to advertise my business. I'm here for the cars. Notice how I have left out my company logo and website? That said, thanks for clarifying the origins of the emblem design.

Spaceball-Two > Built BMW Tough
11/16/2013 at 20:09

Very nice. I agree on the wheels. I am typically anti-chrome so yeah I'd strip it and go matte.

A3R0 > Built BMW Tough
11/16/2013 at 20:09

Welcome. In all seriousness how does a paint job cost $50k?

55Buick, Oversteer Scientist > Built BMW Tough
11/16/2013 at 20:11

What's the name of the business? I'm also in Northern California, I might like to stop by sometime :)

$kaycog > Built BMW Tough
11/16/2013 at 20:23

That is really interesting..............and sad. I enjoyed your post tremendously and look forward to others.

Built BMW Tough > A3R0
11/16/2013 at 20:52

The paint is unique to this car, a special blend I guess. Everything is painted, and there are some special touches like little pinstripey things behind the fenders, and painted on the wheels too. I'm betting the prep and reassembly was the majority of the cost.

Kinja'd!!!

Would I spend $50k on paint on a 210 post? No. Maybe if it was a quarter-million dollar Ferrari, or an original 356 Speedster. This car was a labor of love.

Built BMW Tough > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist
11/16/2013 at 20:53

That would be great! The business is called New Autos Inc. and we are located out of Chico, CA.

zadtheinhaler > Built BMW Tough
11/16/2013 at 21:23

That beastie needs black plain janes, with or without Moons. Such a beauty.

Built BMW Tough > Tom McParland
11/16/2013 at 21:24

Tom - I'll shoot you an e-mail.

Built BMW Tough > zadtheinhaler
11/16/2013 at 21:28

Yeah, I think some Magnum-style wheels, custom made to modern sizes, would be perfect. This is the car you would drive to Vegas with a special briefcase and wayfarers.

desertdog5051 > Built BMW Tough
11/16/2013 at 22:18

Just giving you a hard time, as I do all new or newer Oppos. Here is my usual greeting:

You'll be sorrrrry.....This is a land where things are not as they seem and before you realize there is no escape, you are trapped ...This, my friends, is the OPPO ZONE.

Welcome.

Built BMW Tough > desertdog5051
11/16/2013 at 22:23

Thanks dawg!

zadtheinhaler > Built BMW Tough
11/17/2013 at 07:19

The briefcase might be optional, but the Wayfarers are not

Built BMW Tough > zadtheinhaler
11/17/2013 at 12:45

Kinja'd!!!