On occasion, you see a very needy project car but then give it a second look and begin to weigh the factors in its favor. This 1971 BMW 2002 is pretty cheap at just $1,000, which doesn’t buy you much of anything these days when it comes to vintage vehicles. However, it may have some details in the photos that could make it worth the risk, and the seller sounds motivated to get it gone – so there’s a chance it could go for even less than advertised here on Facebook Marketplace in Dallas, Texas. Thanks to Barn Finds reader BCB42 for the find.

So, the first bit of good news is that this 2002 is in Texas. While not a universal truth, it stands to reason that Texas cars often survive better than vehicles in the snow belt when left outdoors like this. While I’m sure there is corrosion present somewhere, it at least looks like this 2002 doesn’t have major holes in its body panels. Of course, we don’t have any pictures of the vulnerable shock towers inside the trunk, and you absolutely need to check those out. What I dig about the front end is that cool Kamei front air dam, a desirable piece of kit that is deliciously period-correct for a modified Euro car.

Of course, if you know 2002s, you know that a lot of the desirability is often baked into the bumpers and the tail lights. This 2002 is just old enough to have the desirable “roundie” tail lights and the slimmer chrome bumpers that came before the less-desirable square taillights and larger U.S.-spec safety bumpers. There again is some evidence that this long-neglected 2002 could be worth a closer look, especially since those parts alone – along with the front air dam – likely represent better than 75 percent of the purchase price. And we haven’t even seen the interior or the engine bay!

And, sadly, you don’t, as there are no photos. However, from here, I can confidently say it does not have a pair of sweet, period-correct Recaros swapped in, as those headrests appear to be standard 2002 fare. The engine condition isn’t described, other than the seller noting it is a “complete” car. Also, the nose isn’t sitting awkwardly high, so I doubt the drivetrain has been yanked, and there’s no ominous “Automatic” badge on the decklid to suggest it has a slushbox. All in all, this 2002 looks like a worthwhile project for $1,000, and possibly less if you don’t waste the seller’s time.