This 1972 BMW 2002 is a desirable round taillight example, otherwise known as a “roundie.” Despite being listed in Andover, Massachusetts, it is from Colorado and is said to be quite solid in all the areas that are typically trouble spots on a car like this. I personally love the KC driving lamps on the front bumper, which are more suited for a K5 Blazer than a 2002, but to each their own. The paint is gone but the floors are there, which is more of a priority for most enthusiasts anyway. Even better? The 2002 still runs and drives, so you’re already starting with a pretty solid foundation all around if you take this one on. Find the 2002 here on eBay with bidding just over $5K and the reserve unmet.

The 2002 looks like a great starting point for someone dipping a toe into vintage European car ownership, and it’s a sound investment too given the popularity of the round taillight cars. The seller was smart to snag this out of a western state where rust isn’t as much of an issue, and the only rust of any significance is obviously the surface-level patina and some rust on the outside of the rockers. This is far better than some of the projects I own, which makes me insanely jealous of people who live in the dry, mountain states and can still find vintage cars like this 2002 languishing about.

The other benefit to the earlier cars as seen above is the small bumpers, which many later 2002 owners convert to if they find a good pair of bumpers for sale. The seller’s car appears to have straight bumpers with good chrome and just an overrider missing from the front. The interior is better than you might expect for a car that presumably was left outside long enough for the paint to be baked completely off, though the dash does show some light cracking. Still, it’s a manual transmission 2002 that apparently wasn’t modified past some stickers and a set of driving lamps, as the interior looks to be completely stock, right down to the Blaupunkt-style radio.

The engine bay is clean and looks quite original, with no obvious signs of poorly repaired collision damage. The seller reports the BMW runs and stops without issue, and that even the clutch still engages as it should. Most importantly, the strut towers front and rear are in good shape, as these are one of the riskiest areas on a 2002 for finding rust. The seller does have a reserve on this round taillight car, which isn’t a surprise considering how desirable they’ve become. If you’re seeking perfection, this looks like a straightforward car to restore, and if not, it seems like an easy project to tinker with while you drive the doors off of it. Which path would you choose?