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The Ultimate Driving Museum
  • About
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Hours & Contact
    • FAQ
    • Foundation Board
    • Foundation Staff
    • Our Foundation
    • Street Survival
  • Museum
    • Future Exhibit
    • Past Exhibits
      • 2023 – Wundercar Collection
      • 2022 – The Power of M
      • 2021 – BMW Z
      • 2020 – Genesis
      • 2019 – Passion
      • 2018 – The Icon
      • 2017 – Heroes of Bavaria
    • Museum Membership
    • Collection
    • Library & Archives
    • Gallery
      • Photo Gallery
      • Video Gallery
  • Events
    • Event Signup
  • News
    • Foundation News
    • Newsletter
  • Donate & Support
    • Donate
    • Museum Membership
    • Other Ways to Give
      • Planned Giving
      • M Platz Society
      • Founders’ Garden
      • Donate to the Library & Archives
      • Donate a Vehicle
    • Sponsorship
    • Ambassador Program
      • Ambassador Contact List
      • Ambassador’s Tool-kit
    • Volunteer
      • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Volunteer Time Clock
  • Shop

Elegance: The California

1969 BMW E3 2800 #244-5111

Engine: 2788cc M30B28 inline six-cylinder

Build date: June 24, 1970

Color: Riviera Blue

Owner: Christian Zschocke, Frankfurt, Germany

The California has no roof. It is open to the sky, exposed to the elements, no matter the weather. That’s the message of this car. But things aren’t all what they seem. Because freedom, laissez-faire, endless drives into the sunset take a back seat in the California. It’s more about being aware and allowing things to happen with us and inside of us. The beautiful things, but also the more unpleasant ones.
Making of: The unmistakable elegance of the California is the result of a meticulous process characterized above all by the following philosophy: “Elegance. No compromises,” as Christian Zschocke says.
And so it came to be: A well-maintained 1969 E3 2800 was fully disassembled, measured using CAD and completely rebuilt. Since the roof was omitted, all hollow spaces were filled with high-strength steel profiles. “The torsion resistance of the California is better than that of the standard E3,” says Zschoche. And he’s got the certification to prove it. He adds, “Another challenge was the conversion from four doors to just two. This made it necessary to lengthen the front doors by sixteen centimeters.”
The California was then rebuilt from the ground up, which means: DCP priming and painting, applying several coats of paint (Riviera Blue), and redesigning the interior himself, including a new cognac leather rear bench.

Check out the Wundercars Collection of products in our store!

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Mon - Fri: 9AM — 5PM
Sat & Sun: CLOSED
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T: 864-329-1919
F: 864-879-2128
info@bmwccafoundation.org

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