1971 BMW 1500

Some of you may remember BMW back in the 1960s as a manufacturer of nicely-done sedans that barely anyone on this side of the ocean had ever heard of. Then someone at the Bavarian automaker had the brilliant idea of taking a 1600 two-door, throwing in the larger 2-liter engine and — voila! There was the BMW 2002, the car which literally put BMW on the map here in North America, and which eventually morphed into the über successful 3-series. Being a little different, as I often am, I've decided not to be like everyone and his brother and covet one of those original 2002s (which were sold from 1968-76), and go for the simpler, and rarer in these parts, 1500 sedan. I like its lines, and I like the idea that almost no one else wants one. 'Cause that's how the Lotto Garage often rolls. (BMW photo) — jc