This BMW Gives 2002 Reasons to Keep Fixing It

Owner and Photographer: Perry Kveton 

Year, Make, and Model: 1974 BMW 2002tii

Location: Truckee, California

Mr. Perry Kveton just finished piecing his 1974 BMW 2002tii back together after some major modifications. Having bought it five years ago when he was nineteen years old and attending University of Oregon, it is his first and only car.

Growing up overseas and moving around as an expat, Perry saw some amazing cars and vehicles while traveling. Airplanes, trains, cars, and trucks all sparked his passion and interest in automobiles and engineering from a young age. Some of his strongest memories include riding around in his dad’s four-door BMW Bavaria, cementing his love for German cars, BMWs in particular.

Since then, he knew he wanted to drive a small European car. He loved the shape of the 2002 and calls it “quite possibly one of my favorite body designs in the world.” While acknowledging that many were imported to the US, Perry still thinks they’re, “fun to see and have an aspect of rarity on the street that is subtly cool in my opinion.”

His is painted in factory Chamonix white and while he’s run the Kugelfischer fuel injection that came standard on the car, it’s currently equipped with a Weber 32/36 two-barrel carburetor. He’s also running an ANSA sport exhaust and resonator, Bilstein struts and adjustable coilovers with Eibach springs, Ireland Engineering center and track rods, IE braided steel brake lines, and an IE 2002 bump steer kit with ball joints.

The exterior has had some mods also, including removing the lower trim and replacing US-spec bumpers with early Euro-style ones, mounting Hella 500 floodlights within the grill, and early 80’s Riken RTW basketweave wheels.

“There are so many things that I love about my car – and things that I hate – but it is definitely hard to list. I love how practical it is, despite looking tiny and miniature next to modern cars. I can fit four people comfortably and the trunk is actually huge. Its weight makes it a ton of fun despite not having much power and the exhaust note definitely makes up for it.”

Perry found this car in Portland, Oregon, seemingly in good driving condition when he bought it, although things “started going wrong pretty soon after that…and made me realize I needed to start getting to work and putting some real love into it.” According to Perry, his 2002 has had a long and turbulent history of mechanical difficulty, which he’s addressed as needed.

But he’s driven the BMW between Oregon and Northern California/Nevada numerous times having a blast in the process, many times over snow and other poor weather conditions. Favorite roads include the Donner Pass above Truckee, California and the Geiger Grade going up to Virginia City from Reno, Nevada. In spite of the difficulties, it’s obvious the car more than compensates in terms of experience.

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