There comes a point in our lives when we decide time is at a premium and you become very selective about how that time is used. When it comes to project cars, the idea of restoring a vehicle and the hours it represents away from your loved ones (unless you live in some sort of project car nirvana where they help you restore it) makes it far easier to pass on massive projects, no matter how deserving they may be. However, I’d be lying if I said that this 1972 BMW 2002 Tii listed for sale here at LBI Limited in perhaps the best color ever offered on a BMW doesn’t make me pine for a bigger garage and more time.
Colorado Orange is just a fantastic color. If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to see it in person, I would assume that you know what I mean. There’s something about it that also just screams Colorado – I don’t know what, exactly – but it makes me think of the Gold Rush era and Yukon territories all the same. Despite the fact that this BMW 2002 has been off the road for many years, it’s incredible to see how honest and complete the paint still appears to be, even down to all the various books and crannies of the body. The heart of the 2002 Tii is its engine, of course, with the 2.0L four-cylinder pushing out a very respectable 130 horsepower and 131 lb.-ft. of torque, and effectively giving birth to the modern-day sport sedan.
BMW knew what it was doing when it added three meaningful letters to the end of the 2002 badge, a car that was already well-loved among enthusiasts. The Tii to this day remains a force in the collector car world, offering spirited performance that is highly entertaining, and handling that proved to the world in the 1960s that you could build a four-seater with good speed and outstanding road-holding qualities. The car shown here has clearly spent some time in enthusiast hands, as the bus-like factory steering wheel has been swapped out for a very period-correct three-spoke unit. The last owner to use the car drove it for a bit in 2006 before placing it into storage, awaiting a restoration that never came.
The seller, LBI Limited, really does an excellent job of preparing its listings. They’ve lucked out and secured a vehicle that has retained its valuable paperwork over the years, allowing them to piece together the car’s past. The ownership history suggests nothing out of the ordinary, just a car that was continually used and driven after being purchased new in Pennsylvania. Now, it obviously needs a proper reconditioning and underside photos show that the rockers appear to be due for replacement, but overall, this is not what I’d call a “rusty” car considering it has lived in the Northeast. The asking price is $12,000 and I certainly hope someone with the time that I lack is able to put this 2002 Tii back on the road.
These are great cars. This one not so great. Have got a year in one and can’t think of another car that can provide as much fun to drive. I hope there is enough left of this one to restore without breaking the bank.
When I see this car in Colorado Orange, I think of the Gold Rush, too. As in the gold rushing from the pockets of the enthusiast who takes on its restoration. And, perhaps, the golden hue of the rust in its nether regions….
That’s a shame, because I really like these cars, for all the reasons (including the color) that Jeff mentions. But I also see a car has sat for a long, long time and thus will need, at the very least, a lot of rubber parts, gaskets, tires and seals that are not inexpensive. Cosmetic restoration, which the tii deserves, will add to the outflow.
Resuscitation is well beyond my wrenching and spending ability. I wish the next owner much good luck in getting the little BMW back on the road, driving — and looking — as well as it can.
This one is in Colorado Orange all right. It compliments the Illinois Rust or wherever that brownish red came from. This is a car that will take a labor of love and a lot of money to bring back.
Every cent put into the resto of this wonderful BMW will be recovered on it’s eventual resale. Mine was a 1969 2002 in Colorado which before it was re painted was just another funny, faded orange colour, but when I got hold of BMW and bought the original colour, i.e. Colorado, and re painted it ,then it stood out as the best colour car that I have ever owned, and I’ve owned a couple of hundred in my 86 years. It was so good that the 1967 Mustang coupe that I owned at the same time also finished up in Colorado orange a short time later.
The hot rod ’74 Porsche 914 we
built from the ground up had signal orange color on it that was very close to BMW’s. We bumped up the orange to brighten it a bit. Yes, we like the color of the BMW.
I had one of these in college, in the 80’s. The fuel injection, when then, was a nightmare. It was outside my meager budget to fix, so I could understand why so many people put Webers on them.
Other than that, it was a great car, and towed my 3 rail trailer with my MX race bike, no problem.
The Mk 1 Lotus Cortina gave birth to the modern day sports sedan.
I drive a 69 F-250 which is Chrome Yellow and looks almost identical to this color. I love it!
This car was built about 150 before the one I’m restoring now, also an original Colorado tii that I’ll put back to that color. Fortunately mine has a lot less rust. This one has rust bubbling up nearly everywhere, which is frightening. You’re not going to get inside some of those cavities and eliminate it, so it will reactivate in moist conditions even after all the glorious body and paint work. The documentation is helpful. It should have the more desirable early ’72 cylinder head. Regardless, it should be put back on the road and enjoyed. Thanks for shining a light on these amazing mechanically fuel-injected classics, Jeff!
To me,this is one of the most undesirable colors on these
cars,and doesn’t show well.
Todd,you need to do a feature here on your cars,as well as
the other writers here.It’s always interesting to me to see what
you drive & are working on.
I went to a Hemmings cruise in a couple of weeks ago,and
drove through the Hemmings parking lot & was really disapointed
to see nothing but (overall) boring daily drivers.
Thanks, angliagt – Building a garage has taken priority and sadly the tii hasn’t changed much since this article, but after the garage, this is Job #1. https://barnfinds.com/todds-garage-1972-bmw-2002-tii-project/
Fright Pig.
I believe you’re a little Rocky Mountain high there Mr. Lavery! Colorado is the last thing I think of when I see that color, but I’ve seen it in person a few times and it’s stunning. This one needs some love but a tii is always worth it.
This is a pretty sad piece. While yes it’s a desirable TII, there isn’t a panel or piece on this car that isn’t going to require major attention. The nose piece has been poorly repaired with fiberglass mat, there isn’t a good piece of material anywhere on the car and the one shot of a rocker shows it’s totally shot. NO pics of the engine compartment so that’s a total crap shoot and they don’t even note the condition of the engine or transmission. JMHO but this one is way too far gone to be economically restored or someone would have done it, and that includes the seller. I know it’s not much for a TII, but you can find ones in a LOT better shape than this for not that much more. RUN FOREST RUN!!!