“Everything in life is somewhere else, and you get there in a car” - E.B. White
My Start With Cars
My first car was a 1990 Mazda Miata that I had purchased out of a neighbors driveway for $400. This was a stepping off point from which I would start my automotive journey. At the time of purchase it was non running, didn’t have a roof, and needed to be towed back to my house. I had been taking apart bicycles for a couple years at this point and thought, “this is just a larger, more complicated bike, with 2 extra wheels” prompting me to dive headfirst into this project. The Miata was cool, but left me wanting to explore other options as far as differing brands. The Miata would be my first flip and teach me the basics of restoring and fixing cars. I would end up selling the Miata for $2800 after around 6 months of ownership. Unknowingly to my 15 year old self, this Miata would set me on a very fun and rewarding journey, teaching me about business, marketing, and the importance of relationships, both personal and professional.
My Miata when I purchased it November 17th, 2018
Bavarian Fever
After the Miata I purchased a 2002 BMW 330ci. My uncle had let me drive his E92 M3 competition and I could think of nothing cooler than to own a BMW of my own. Against my parents wishes, I bought probably one of the junkier BMWs in the north Bay Area. It was lowered, extremely loud, and looked like something a D rate drug dealer might drive, essentially a 16 year old’s wet dream. This car introduced me to BMW’s and I would absolutely fall head over heels. Currently out of the roughly 40+ cars I’ve owned, around 34 of them have been some type of BMW, consisting primarily of e36’s, e46’s and e9x’s.
E36 = 1990 - 1998 BMW 3 Series
E46 = 1999 - 2006 BMW 3 Series
E9x = 2007 - 2013 BMW 3 Series
My weed dealer spec 2002 BMW 330ci. Manual 5 speed
Some of My Favorite BMW’s I’ve Flipped
2016 F80 M3, Alpine White on Sahkir Orange, DCT
2016 F80 M3, Alpine White on Sahkir Orange, DCT
2016 F80 M3, Alpine White on Sahkir Orange, DCT
2008 BMW M3, Jet Black on Black, 6 Speed Manual
2008 BMW M3, Jet Black on Black, 6 Speed Manual
2008 BMW M3, Jet Black on Black, 6 Speed Manual
2005 BMW M3, Mystic Blue on Dove Grey, 6 Speed Manual
2005 BMW M3, Mystic Blue on Dove Grey, 6 Speed Manual
2005 BMW M3, Mystic Blue on Dove Grey, 6 Speed Manual
1996 BMW 328i Turbo, Jet black on Black, 5 Speed Manual. More on this below
1996 BMW 328i Turbo, Jet black on Black, 5 Speed Manual. More on this below
1996 BMW 328i Turbo, Jet black on Black, 5 Speed Manual. More on this below
My First Big Project
At the beginning of sophomore year of college, I sold my very nice 2011 BMW 335is and purchased a 1996 BMW 328i to replace it. I had big plans for this car, turbocharging it in my parent’s driveway. At this point in time I had a good amount of mechanical experience but this would be my first attempt at removing and engine from a car, modifying it, and putting it back it. This project taught me lots of things from how to properly disassemble an engine’s internals to how to wire in a fuel pump and relay system. This was all thanks to the greatest internet resource ever, YouTube. This project was a life lesson in budgeting, research, and the importance of connections. I was able to borrow many critical components such as an engine crane, engine stand, and other specialty components thanks to relationships I had built up over time in the car world.
My M52 2.8 engine going back in the car after ARP studs & full reseal
Money Pit to Money Maker
My E36 Turbo project, and the adjacent instagram, @owens.car, I had made to document my progress, would eventually help me land a job fixing classic cars. In the beginning of summer 2023, I was knocking on doors in my local industrial park looking for a job at a body shop. The last door of the day would be home to a gentlemen with a very nice, albeit malfunctioning classic car collection. He started me out with a trial project, restoring his AE86 Corolla that had been sitting outside for the last 10 or so years. As time went on and the Corolla became road worthy again, I was allowed to start touching some of the other, much more expensive cars. During my time in his employment, I would complete projects such as:
1970 Celica TA22 Electronic Ignition Retrofit + Revival
1971 Porsche 914 Full interior Carpet Installation
1969 Datsun B210 BRE Clone Chrome Trim Restoration + Paint / Decals
Documentation and Sale of Largest Collection of Automotive Magazines Ever Sold at 1 Time
+ Many more
Porsche 914 post carpet installation
Reflection on Cars
As of 2025, I’ve just graduated from SJSU and shortly before doing so, I purchased a 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 in cash, arguably the best sports car value of this current decade. It is wild to look back on all of this and how it started from a $400 Mazda. I was incredibly fortunate enough to have had a living situation that allowed me to pursue this adventure. While my parents never funded any of the cars, they did support me and allow me to use their driveway and home as a makeshift repair shop. Cars have allowed me to go places, meet people, and see things that I could never have dreamed of. Here are the 3 largest things cars have taught me:
There are a lot of things more important than cars: While cars can be a source of happiness, it’s often short and fleeting. Fulfillment comes from strong relationships and experiences had. Having a Ferrari won’t cure loneliness.
Enjoy the things you have: It was easy to always be thinking about what I would buy next, that it often made me disregard how far I had already come. It is good to reflect and be proud of your achievements, even if someone else has something “better”. Comparison will always be the thief of joy.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help: There has been more than a few times that I wasn’t able to do it on my own, from loosening a stuck bolt to figuring out what parts to buy. The most important tool anyone can have is a contact list of people willing to help them.
My Corvette Z06 on top on Lucas Valley Road, Lucas Valley, CA