This 1975 BMW 2002 is already fetching near $8,000 on eBay despite clearly sitting for some time and being saddled with the unfortunate automatic transmission. That’s likely due to a combination of causes, from its high and dry location in Arizona to its desirable factory color of Mint Green. The 2002 has been sitting for at least 12 years, but the seller contends you won’t find a spot of rust or corrosion anywhere on this car, and from what we can see in the photos, the typical 2002 trouble spots seem to be rock solid. Find it here on eBay with bids to $7,600 and no reserve.
It’s hard not to get excited about the prospect of being the first person to hit this thing with an orbital buffer and see just how much of that single stage paint comes back to life. The 2002’s finish looks quite evenly faded, so wherever it sat, it was stationary for some time. This is a later 2002 with the large safety bumpers and square taillights, which generally doesn’t cause a stir when equipped with the automatic transmission. But in this case, the rare color spec and the documented process for converting a car like this to a manual makes it a tempting project for a 2002 enthusiast. The really fascinating twist is that this 2002 was driven to a church for donating and that’s where it’s sat for a decade-plus!
I’d love to know if some small-town parish in Arizona had a bright green 2002 just sitting in the back lot, with no idea what to do with it after the benefactor passed away and the family dropped it off at the church. While donating a car to charity is a common occurrence these days, an individual parish may not have known what to do when blessed with the good fortune of a parishioner leaving a formerly expensive luxury car on their property to collect the profits from selling. What’s also intriguing about this example is the custom upholstery job a previous owner had installed – that is a very 70s look, and only adds to the character that’s oozing from this forgotten 2002.
The 2002 retains a clean Arizona title, and given it was driven to the church, perhaps there’s a good chance the four-cylinder engine will fire back up with oil in the cylinders. The engine bay is undisturbed, and photos of this area and inside the trunk reveal how vibrant the original green paint was and that the typically vulnerable rear shock towers are in excellent condition with no signs of rust blistering through. There’s an original spare wheel on a brand new tire in the trunk, along with some very funky carpets. The previous owner of this 2002 liked things loud, so hopefully the next caretaker will do it justice and bring back that paint while preserving the custom interior.
The 2002 was a luxury car?
I know it’s hard to believe, but I was an Alter boy & commentator years ago. Never saw anything like this parked at church!
Any car that needs the interior pressure cleaned . .
Lots of potential here. Get it running again, repaint the car the same shade of green and fit earlier-style bumpers, and you’d have a looker worth a lot of $$$.
“7383 original miles” – church donation or not there’s a very loose relationship with the truth right there.
I’ll agree that the body looks good so presumably no welding required but it certainly needs everything else.
I have a ’75 ’02 in very good condition, but I don’t think I’d get over15k for it. The market is just not that strong. In any case, I’d never sell mine. It’s my daily driver and drives wonderfully along with being inexpensive to own and operate. At first I didn’t like the bumpers, but later found that they really work. I see earlier models with broken taillights and crunched bumpers, not mine. I’ve learned to love the later model bumpers, function over fashion.
I like It. I had a 76 2002 in Jade green that I purchased new. I do have a soft spot for the square taillight cars.
“Lord, when I prayed for you to send me a BMW, this is NOT what I had in mind!”
From the looks of the interior, I’d say it has 107,383 miles on it.
look carefully there is rust , sunroof and rear chrome strip , 107k for sure , still could be a good find ,needs interior and lots of tlc !
Item location:
Cave Creek, Arizona
automatic transmission??? if you have ever driven a 2002 with automatic, you know it’s a car to avoid. slow, and just not the same as the 72 roundie I had in 72 with a 4 speed. on top of that finding parts to restore it? i’d pass.
Had a 1970 2002 automatic, my grandmother bought it new. Trans pump input shaft seal went, no one could or wanted to fix it so I machined a bushing and drove it until it melted into rust by 1983. Winters are hard on cars here in Maine
I bought a 1975 tii in 1990 after getting out of the Army. Black with gold BBS wheels. What a fun car to drive! I could drift it into a corner and feel like I was in total control the whole time. Man I loved that car. My next door neighbor had a red Alfa GTV 2000. Our driveways were about 6 feet apart and we would sit out and drink a beer and everyone had to stop and check out the cars. It was like Cars and Coffee in our driveway. Only it was beer. Thanks for joining me on this trip down memory lane.
Ended:Apr 24, 2021 , 1:13AM
Winning bid:
US $10,001.00
[ 59 bids ]