Page 72 - Wayne Carini's Guide to Affordable Classics

for a small car in the late 1960s. US sales would have to wait for the fuel-injected 2002 tii, launched in late 1969. Its compression ratio was down due to American anti-pollution requirements, but it boosted output to an impressive 140 horsepower at launch, though it was later reduced due to emissions restrictions. Add in the mechanical upgrades from the ti, and the tii was an even more appealing variant of the 2002.
Cabrios and Tourings
In 1969, BMW announced another entry to the 02 portfolio, a “Touring” model with a grafted-on hatchback. Like the Renault 16 five-door that partly inspired it (and the VW Golf that followed it by only a few years), the Touring was eminently practical. But somehow its functionality, as well as the addition of higher performance ti and tii variants, just couldn’t overcome its rather awkward proportions and only about 20,000 examples were built before it was dropped from the lineup. It was never exported to the US.
Though the Touring’s roomy rear cargo area offered more practicality than the standard 1600 and 2002 models, customers just couldn’t get past its looks. Only about 20,000 were built before it was dropped.
and adding 100 pounds. The 2002 tii, daunted by US emissions controls, saw its output drop to 125 horsepower.
Under Pressure
Though the ti and tii versions of the 2002 command the highest prices today amongst the “normal” 2002s, the most rarefied 2002 was introduced at the end of the 02’s lifecycle, the simply named “Turbo.” Only 1,672 were ultimately built, but they represented a major engineering effort, with wider wheels and tires, upgraded brakes, limited slip differential, wheel flares, a rear spoiler and bolstered sport seats. Only two colors were offered, white and
The fuel-injected 2002 tii maintained all the best attributes of the 2002 but added more horsepower.
BMW initially catered to the home market’s predilection for open- top motoring with a soft-top 1600 developed by Stuttgart-based Karosserie Baur. It briefly survived the transition to the 2002 with 200 built, but uncertainty over US rollover regulations prompted a design change that replaced the soft top with a lift-off roof and a folding rear window, the two separated by a rigid bar. It was more practical than pretty and only around 2,300 were produced and none were ultimately exported to the US.
Fast forward to 1973 and it was time for a freshening of the
aging 2002. While the overall shell didn’t change, there were new
graphics on the front with the bright kidney grilles now flanked
by black slats. At the rear, the charming roundel taillamps were
replaced with more modern rectangular versions (though Touring
models didn’t adopt this change). Inside, seats and carpets were
upgraded and a higher-level “Lux” package was added for
European customers. US customers were treated less well with
garish impact-absorbing bumpers that jutted dramatically out
from the front and rear, increasing overall length by 9.5 inches a folding rear window. Neither was exported to the US.
70Wayne CariniAffordable Classics
There were two topless options in the ’02 lineup, a full convertible that was later followed by a “targa” version with a lift-off roof and