Old race cars: they just ooze history, even if their only track-experience was at the hands of an amateur. This 1975 BMW 2002 looks like it was well on its way to a grassroots-inspired track build but either stalled out or saw its career end abruptly. The fiberglass box flares look the business, and those MSW or MIM wheels are about as good as it gets for a period-correct wheel. Find this road course candidate 2002 here on eBay with a $3K Buy-It-Now.
The abundance of old-school Bimmers in this back lot tells you the seller has either been hoarding this 2002 for a while or maintains a revolving fleet of projects that are either keepers or put up for sale. I’m not sure what to do with a car like this, as the period modifications certainly make it an intriguing candidate for a build, but the rusty bodywork and odd automatic transmission make it a bigger project than it may first appear. Square taillights are somewhat unloved but at least the park-bench bumpers are gone.
Automatic 2002s – not a lot of fun, those cars. It seems odd to go through the trouble of building a track car around an automatic example, but perhaps the manual swap was the final to-do before the project hit the skids. With so much glass missing and the interior in shambles, there’s really no reasonable hope of bringing this car back to stock; in fact, an aluminum panel with some cut-outs for gauges and kill switches may make more sense than trying to find an uncracked dash. Seats are from a later E21, most likely.
The seller notes the “…engine is trashed,” and leaving it with the head off will certainly have that effect. Included with the sale will be new floorpans from Germany, so apparently those are rusted out as well. What will get bidders in the room is the flared bodywork and Motorsports stripes running down the sides. The look that this 2002 has is enough to convince someone to build a track car around it, gutting the interior and drivetrain and preserving what can be saved.
Being in the throes of restoring a ’75, this one looks surprisingly solid, except for the floors. Have to look closely at what the new floor sheet metal will fit to, to ensure it’s all there, and in decent enough condition. Killer here is the automatic. Really need a donor car for all the bits for a conversion if going that route. I’d also want to know how the flares were attached, and what they did to the original wheel wells. Not sure I’d want to fling myself around a track in it if all the spot welds on the wheel wells are removed. Could be a good start for a fun toy though!
I see a roached out parts car with little to offer . Engine apart and tranny prob shot as well as no interior or glass .
Hmm bmw parts are high as well as one would have to be to bite on this one at this price 😮
You say, “no glass”. If you look at all the pics, the only glass missing is the windshield, driver rear quarter glass and the back glass. Seller states, “glass included”. I’d want to verify the seller has ALL the glass.
Automatics had a bigger tunnel which makes it easier to drop in a five speed from a 320i.
Agreed …a friend did the very same
The box flares look funny without wide tires/wheels! Other than the see-thru floors, looks surprisingly solid……..especially for a NY car!
I asked the seller, “How were the fiberglass flares attached to the car? What was done to the original fenders and quarter panels (were they cut or removed)? Do you have the windshield, driver rear quarter glass and rear window? Other than the floors is there any other rust thru areas? Do you have a clean title or salvage title?”
The seller replied, “Front fenders are replacements. Rear quarters are bonded on. All plastic. I purchased the car as you see it. I don’t know what happened to the fenders. I have all the glass and front grills. Rust thru is limited to the floors. Frame rails are solid. Rear shock towers are solid. Clear Texas title.”
“The abundance of old school” may just translate to the owner saying..this one’s not worth the time and money.