KONTAK PERKASA FUTURES - The property in the midst of an older industrial estate looks more like a car graveyard than a collection’s home. Behind the wire fence rest a good dozen incognito casualties, protected against weather by yellow covers or gray tarp. Behind the gate, however, a tightly packed array of shining BMWs from the ’60s and ’70s await us in what is half warehouse, half workshop. When he ran out of floor space, 48-year-old Rey (last name withheld on request) started stacking the surplus stock on hoists.
KONTAK PERKASA FUTURES - Right now the head count is 52, but it fluctuates as this makeshift enterprise seems to buy and sell cars on a whim. “I once had 14 2002tii models in various stages from neglect to perfection,” recalls the former football player who made a small fortune as a broker in the dairy business. “Presently, I’m down to three. I also have three carburetor-fed 2002ti models, which I actually prefer to drive. They are that bit more responsive.” He rotates regularly through his treasures, taking each vehicle for a spin or a longer journey about three times a year. Favorites? “As far as modern cars go, the M2. From more recent times, the 3.0 CSL and the E30 M3. Out of the older stuff, I love the 02 series and Neue Klasse from the base 1600 to the up-market 2000tilux.” Four experts manage this place: Michael, a retired German racing school instructor and M1-homologation specialist; the local mechanics Dave and Jason; and Rizzo the Prague ratter. The what? Just a few pounds of guard dog, which allegedly owes its name to the medieval keepers of Prague’s Hradschin Palace, kept rodent-free by a squadron of these big-eyed, shark-toothed rat catchers. Rey buys some of his toys in bulk and others individually, sometimes merely to save a rarity from the shredder. Among the patients awaiting treatment are a rusty 2000C coupe, a half-finished Malaga Red 2002ti, and a U.S.-market-only L6 with front-end damage. Unlike most classic car buffs, Rey does not necessarily insist on originality. “I own several Alpinas that, strictly speaking, aren’t originals,” he says. “And I do like crazy one-offs like the wild, wide-body 345i powered by a 745i motor, the stealth 2000 saloon equipped with a later-day 2.2-liter M3 unit, or the rear-engined lightweight 700RS roadster of which only two have survived.” In addition to nine Alpinas, he owns an interesting fleet of high-performance models. Among them: 15 ti and tii models, the aforementioned CSL, and a bunch of early M3, M5, and M6 models. Having started his collection in 1992, he is still chasing a number of cars, among them the ballsy 1800tisa (only 200 were made), an M1 project car, and a 2002 turbo that doesn’t need an awful lot of work. “Trouble is, to make a small fortune on classic cars requires a big fortune to start with,” he chortles. “So I’m constantly looking for relatively affordable sleepers like certain limited-edition models, rare color and trim combinations, and older stuff such as the 502 Baroque Angel or a 3200CS Bertone.” Money being no object, what else would he buy? “Any two-door 502 would be nice to have, also a 503 coupe, and of course the out-of-reach 507,” he says. “I also fancy something older, like a 327 or 328, both in open- and closed-top form.” How about a Z8 or an i8? “Nice, for sure. But too modern, too difficult for us to work on.” Source : automobilemag.com
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AuthorKontak Perkasa Bandung Archives
February 2022
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