As BMW slowly forged a name for itself as a manufacturer of fine, athletic, luxurious sedans and coupes through the 1960s, an entry-level model was needed, something that would appeal to younger people. Wilhelm Hofmeister, BMW’s design director, called on designers George Bertram and Manfred Rennen to produce an efficient, well-equipped and fun entry-level car based on a shortened New Class chassis. The answer was introduced in 1966 as the 1600- 2, a car that would revolutionize the concept of entry level and make other manufacturers scramble to reconsider what they were doing. The 1600-2 appealed to customers seeking a well-built, comfortable, fun-to-drive, efficient vehicle, but it lacked a bit in the performance field. As such, U.S. BMW importer Max Hoffman was requesting a 1600-2 with more power, something more sporting. Apparently, so too were some of the folks at BMW, specifically Helmut Werner Bonsch, BMW’s director of product planning, and Alex von Falkenhausen, BMW’s engine designer. Both installed a 2.0L inline 4-cylinder in their 1600-2, creating a little Bavarian Hot Rod. Interestingly, neither knew the other had made the modification. When they discovered they’d both done the same thing, they approached BMW with the idea of producing a 2.0L 1600-2. With Hoffman on one side asking for a sportier version and both employees building their own hyper 1600-2s, BMW agreed to the development. The 2002 was born, the name meaning 2.0L 2-door, and it set the standard for sport sedans—again. This 1976 is one of the last of the breeds, the baton being passed to the heavier, more modern 320i. Powered by the 2.0L inline 4-cylinder engine with a 4-speed manual transmission, these later 2002s enjoyed more refinement than their predecessors and offered a higher degree of comfort and safety with the famous performance for which 2002s were known. Presented in blue with a tan interior, the instrument cluster is defined by wood with full instrumentation, including a tachometer. Passengers will appreciate the supportive bucket seats and JVC AM/FM radio on long journeys, while black Cocomats break up the overall tan coloring. Rolling on silver alloy wheels with BMW roundel center caps, this 2002 will easily prove to be one of the most fun cars in any collection.
