Classic cars with history: BMW 2002

The BMW 2002 was one of those cars that made history not only within BMW, but also set a precedent for what the BMW models would become in the future, as well as for many of its rivals. At the time the 2002 was unveiled, the concept of a sporty saloon-coupé applied to only a handful of models and, to top it off, the 2002 was the embryo from which the M3 would emerge, another car that has already featured in this same section.

The story of the 2002 begins with a series of models created not only to captivate the general public in the 1960s, but also to pull the brand out of a deep economic crisis that was affecting the company. Starting with the 1500, the series expanded to include three models preceding the 2002: the 1600, 1800 and 2000.

From the latter, a saloon, came the proposal for a coupé with the same two-litre engine as the 2000, but with the body of the 1600, which was still in production. Although the BMW board initially opposed the idea, the project went ahead, with the North American market firmly in sight, as it was the main customer for the 2000 series.

The 2002 was offered in the Ti variant with 108 hp and the Tii, derived from the company’s first fuel-injected engine and perhaps the most famous of the 2002s, with a top speed of 185 km/h and 130 hp. Throughout its production years, the 2002 also came in estate versions and a convertible built to order in Germany. The last 2002 left the factory in 1976, by which time the project for the first M3 was already a reality and a turbo variant already existed.

Sources and photos | Wikipedia, BMW 2002 UK

More information | History of the BMW 3 Series (Part I, Part II)