Until recently, what might be the earliest BMW 2002 still somewhat remaining hid within the vegetation of an English garden. Consumed by rust, the historic early two-door now rests in Five Ashes, East Sussex, United Kingdom hoping to entice bidders here on eBay UK. No brave soul has summoned a £300 opening bid to date and only a day remains to compete for the privilege of owning the 421st serialized 2002 from its first model year, 1968.
Archeologists typically employ paint brushes and teaspoons to remove the dirt surrounding priceless treasures one speck at a time. Apparently sliding a jack under the nose and separating the unibody into two pieces is also an option. Joking aside, there is no good way to repair a car in this condition, and the auction may simply result in a few salvageable parts being sold to further the projects of other vintage early 2002 owners. Certainly the early serialized body tag will be saved even if it ends up in a shadow box hanging on an enthusiast’s office wall. BMW’s 2002 practically created the practical and entertaining class of two-door sports sedans, and the 2002’s popularity set the stage for the BMW 3-series, the world’s long-standing benchmark sport sedan. Many young professionals mark buying an entry-level 3-series as a rite of passage, a validation of their success, and the beginning of a lifetime love affair with the marque.
Rudely detached from its passenger compartment and still resting on vegetation, the BMW’s nose shows a wistful face to would-be bidders. Though not a holistic validation of the “earliest 2002” claim, SN 421 would be the earliest 2002 mentioned in this BMW2002FAQ thread on the topic.
Letting any car crumble to this sad state makes a shameful statement, but let’s hope the car’s early production date and status as a potential object of historical interest rested unknown to the owner. Knowing this and still neglecting it for so long would baffle fans of the iconic sport sedan. Check out the listing and this YouTube video for more information on this fascinating find. I’m currently restoring a 2002 in my garage and I can’t imagine this one as a starting point. Do you think his early 2002 can be restored?
Only word in the introduction that doesn’t fit is “surviving”. Don’t see anything that looks like it survived at all.
Point taken, bobhess. I was thinking about “extant.” Maybe “existing” would be more accurate. Thanks!
Perhaps the best considertaion here would be to start another carhenge? Or sell the folliage and beg the buyer to take the hulk.
Who cares? Amazes me someones long forgotten parts car, suddenly is worth something? Not bloody likely. One thing for sure, that’s the biggest I.D. plate resting on that back fender, I’ve ever seen.
Despite owning a 2002, I’m not sure it’s more than a curious early parts car myself, Howard. It will take someone with more than the opening bid of 300 GBP / 414 USD to test that theory. You’re right about the giant ID plate; it doesn’t seem very practical or aerodynamic.:)
Really, it hasn’t seen cover of any kind in many years. Who cares what it was, there is nothing left.
Looks exhumed, not rescued. May the rot continue.
get it while it lasts!
“Sometimes dead is better”.
-Stephen King
We’ve seen Mopars like this sell for $15k, so…
Does it have the correct snorkel nose panel? Originality is everything when it comes to a 2002 these days.
Needs immersion in a Georgia swamp for ten years, to season properly.
The original is highly delightful.
It gave it’s life for others to live long, long ago. Let the dead rest in peace.
Well, you have to give BF credit. This one’s in a lot better condition than the Samba wagon that they featured. That one was reduced to unrecognizable rusty pieces in several cardboard boxes.
Just extracting it already put the seller in a deep hole. You’re just buying parts at this point. Frame the VIN tag for posterity.
I could go either way with this one.
Might be able to make a cute trailer out of it.
Nicest crusher left?
I guess this makes six ashes?
Take that POS to the crusher
It’s good to know that Americans aren’t the only ones that think they’re pilots scrap metal is worth more than it really is
Waste of time in everything involved in this article. The pics, the write-up and me reading the first few paragraphs. You’re slipping, Barn Finds.
On the contrary – thank you for an unusual and most fascinating read.
I bought a 65 Coronet convertible for $300.00 back in 2010 for parts. 383/auto and it was just as rusty as this one but the motor turned by hand. It sat outside while his kids 68 R/T 4spd Charger was in the garage. It was there too but his kid wouldn’t sell it. Pulling it on the rollback it seperated the front end from the body. We got it home and chained the front frame section to a tree and disconnected all the linkages/wires and just pulled the whole front clip off, engine, tranny and all. We jumpered the ignition, poured gas in the carb and it started! Sat for 20+ years and it idled until it ran out of fuel.
wow thats just sad, that just proves how great Chrysler engines are, at least back then
Five Ashes seems appropriate.
Seriously?
Seriously???
Winning bid: US $411.23. Some people have more money than brains.
Any more garbage like this and the site should be renamed Junk Finds.
“This is an unrepeatable chance to buy a piece of Bavarian motoring history.”
Let’s hope so!
Would the engine maybe have been worth the sale price? And then sell the rest to the scrapper for perhaps a hundred?