BMW’s 2002 set the benchmark for practical performance vehicles. Introduced in 1968, the car sat on a shortened “Neue Klasse” chassis, which itself sat between BMW’s small cars including the 600/700 compacts, and the luxe “Baroque Angels.” The 2002 maintained the three-box styling of its predecessors but there the resemblance ended. The new 2002 was light, fast, and handled well enough to find itself on the track. The hatchback body style was launched in 1971 and never sold in the US. The two-liter was originally badged “2000 Touring”, but it was soon renamed “2002 Touring”. Only about 5783 Tii versions were produced. This 1971 example is listed here on eBay, with bidding at $26,000, reserve not met. This car failed to sell a few days ago on another venue, where it was bid to $29,000; it was imported from France by the current seller who acquired the car for $32,500 in 2017.
Condition and rarity can sell cars, and this Bimmer has both in spades. Sitting in the engine bay is a replacement two-liter M10 in-line four cylinder, wearing a correct Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection unit, good for about 130 hp. The gearbox is a five-speed manual donated by an E21 three-series. Brakes are power-assisted front discs with rear drums. Pertronix ignition, Bilstein shocks and lowering springs were added last year. The drive belt, water pump, thermostat, radiator and its hoses hoses were replaced as well. All in all, the changes to this car are driver-centric decisions that will only enhance the new owner’s experience.
The dash is cracked, so it wears an aftermarket cover. Other than that the vinyl and fabric seats, gauges, carpets and trim are in great condition. Hard to see here, but CocoMats were shown in prior listings. A Blaupunkt radio – in case you want to listen to anything except the motor – is installed in the dash. Alongside their practical attributes, these cars are sheer fun to drive.
A respray in the original Colorado orange was performed several years ago; Campagnolo wheels wear tires dated 2017 – probably about time for replacements. The bumpers, lights, and trim are specific to Euro delivery cars; the rear lenses have amber uppers, required in France. While Touring body BMWs are rare, sales data is not. A near-copy of this car was sold by Gooding & Company in 2022 for $58,800. This sharp example in dark blue sold for $36,000 one year ago. Based on these comparisons, our subject car seems underbid at the moment; what do you think?
I agree this is a significant car and past sales support that. It will be interesting to see if the 2nd go around in the auction circles will bring more. Usually if a car doesn’t bring the numbers the first time relisting on a second site won’t bring the money. We are in a soft market right now. Good for the buyer but not so much for the seller.
Of course, the side effect will be to bring prices down. Potential buyers, be patient like a vulture. I think perhaps the color of this car is keeping the price down. Yellow isn’t everyone’s shade no matter what they call it.
Colorado orange is one of the more desirable colors on a 70s BMW.
The colour shown in the picture is yellow but in actual fact it is more orange than yellow.
First one of these I saw was in Europe in the ’70s. Same bright yellow orange and I loved the new back end. They were tearing up the Autobahns and were fun to watch.
Personally, I much prefer the standard “3-box”, as you call it, design for a 2002. I’ve owned and loved two, but this touring design is not for me. It looks like they grafted the back of a little, Italian econo-box onto an otherwise would-have-been beautiful car. There is a reason they didn’t make many. As rare as these might be, I’d much rather have the standard model.
Conversely, the E21 3-series should’ve been based on the bones of this car, not the sedan. Once the 02’s then-dated 1960s detailing was facelifted away there wasn’t much left, the fastback would be marginally sleeker and orders of magnitude more useful.
beemer needs more of these – to get the wife-ly approval
from family expenditures.
“See hon, we can store the kiddy seat easily back here till
we need it up front for junior or sweetums. I might even be able to
get that spinning wheel U all ways wanted in back here to home.”
So BMW took over Glas around 1967, always wondered if these Tourings were inspired from the weird 1304CL?
I wouldn’t mind owning one but not really at $30k.