History: (1966-1975)

As early as 1963 there had been discussions about a new and smaller BMW. Thoughts began to focus on a short wheelbase two-door version of the New Class saloon. This plan had particular merit because it would help to re-establish the sporting image that BMW had enjoyed in the 1930's but never recaptured since. The shorter wheelbase would bring handling advantages while the lighter body would improve performance, and of course the two-door configuration would look more sporting than the four-door New Class type. The two-door model did not take long to design. The New Class wheelbase was shortened from 100.4 inches to 98.4 inches, Wilhelm Hofmeister restyled the passenger cabin to suit, and the front of the car was given a minor facelift. Most of the running gear came directly from the existing four-door saloons, although there was a narrow track rear axle, which made front and rear tracks equal on the two-door model. The decision was made to launch the car with the 1,573cc "1600" engine and, decided to call it the 1600-2. The additional figure 2 standing for its two doors and distinguishing it from the four-door 1600 saloon. The 1600-2 was announced in March 1966 and was immediately acclaimed as a winner. The lighter body made the car nearly as fast as the 1800 sedan, while the excellent handling added a sporting ingredient, which was lacking in the larger car. The motoring press was unable to resist comparisons with Alfa Romeo's sports cars, which suited BMW's needs perfectly. At the Frankfurt Motor show in autumn 1967, they announced an even more sporting version - the 1600ti - with a 105 hp twin carburetor engine. And by this stage BMW were already considering the possibility of giving their two-door vehicle yet another engine in the shape of a 2-litre relative of the 1600ti's four cylinders. Not long after the 1600-2 was announced, Alex von Falkenhausen had a 2-litre engine dropped into an example of the car for his own use. Completely independently, BMW's Planning Director Helmut Werner Bonsch had exactly the same conversion carried out for his car. Neither man knew of the other's car until one day in mid - 1967 when both cars were in the workshops together at BMW. Both were enthusiastic about their 2-litre two-doors, and between them decided to put a formal proposal to the BMW Board that such a model should be considered for production.

Their cause was greatly helped by developments in the USA. BMW had never meant very much in that market before the mid-1960's, and the marque had been imported only in small numbers. The company was well aware of the value of sales success in such a large market, and until this point had not had a model which appealed to American customers. In 1966, all that changed. The new two-door 1600-2 models received rave reviews in the American motoring press, and all of a sudden sales started to gather momentum. Wanting to capitalize on this success, importer Max Hoffman urged the Bavarians to let him have another model in the same vein, and preferably one with even more performance. The only model in that range was the 1600ti. Unfortunately, the twin-carburetor engine could not be made to meet the new Federal exhaust emissions regulations, and so it could not be sold in the good old US of A. However, the 100hp 2-litre engine in the 2000 coupe had been made to meet the regulations. The solution was simple, BMW Sales Director Paul Hahnemann was well aware of the US market requirement, and so he supported the proposal for a 2-litre version of the two-door car, despite opposition the sales argument won the day and the 2002 was born. There were three distinct "generations" of the BMW 2002 range during its eight and a half year production life. The first generation cars were built between 1968 and 1971. The second generation, or model 71, cars were built between 1971 and 1973. And the third generation, or model 73, cars were built between 1973 and the end of production in 1976. Within each of those generations, the 2002 range was further subdivided into a variety of different models.

02 Milestones:

1965: 2000 CS (Coupe) announced.

1966: 2000 CS launched in the UK.

1966: 1600-2 Shown outside the Munich Opera House on 9th March.

1966: 1600-2 Officially launched on 17th March @ Geneva Motor Show.

1967: 2000 CS available in RHD with Automatic "CSA" option.

1967: All models changed from 6 Volt to 12 Volt electrics.

1967: Full Convertible launched (total 1682 made).

1967: 2.0 litre versions launched (with brake servo & hydraulic clutch as standard).

1968: Twin Carburetor "Ti" versions launched in September at Frankfurt Motor Show.

1969: Dual Brake circuits added.

1969: Turbocharged 02 entered the Touring Car Challenge Series & won ETCC.

1971: Saloon models got new designation to 1602, 2002.

1971: LHD Cabriolet (Baur) and now Touring versions available.

1971: Tii Mechanical Fuel Injection versions "Tii" arrived with 130 Bhp.

1971: Automatic gearboxes available as expensive DM1350 option).

1973: 2000 Touring re-named to 2002 Touring, received facelift in September.

1973: RHD version of Cabriolet available in the UK in February.

1973: New plastic front grill, Square rear lights, and improved trim levels.

1973: 2002 Turbo launched (Europe's first production Turbo car) @ Frankfurt M.S.

1975: All models ceased production except 1502, making way for new 3-Series.

The Baader-Meinhof Gang;

Bayerische Motoren Werke was the third largest manufacturer of cars on Germany, but by the mid-sixties the company was in financial trouble. Its cars were well built, yet plain. They were also distressingly easy to break into and hot-wire. Though the Baader-Meinhof Gang stole as many Mercedes as BMWs, they were forever linked to the little Bavarian cars in part because of the popular reworking of its name -- from Bayerische Motoren Werke to Baader Meinhof Wagen.
Such was the presumed connection between the gang and the cars that when police would receive a tip that members of the gang were in a particular area, the would often set up a road block and stop only passing BMWs. Often the gang members would be able to drive unmolested past the roadblocks in their freshly stolen Mercedes. Two members burst through police barricades driving a stolen BMW 2002. They exchanged fire with police officers and one of them was killed.
Frustrated BMW owners took to placing bumper stickers on their cars indicating to police that the driver was not, in fact, a member of the Baader-Meinhof Gang. "Ich gehöre nicht zur Baader-Meinhof Gruppe" ("I do not belong to the Baader-Meinhof Group") read the stickers, which were a practical statement as much as a political statement on the terror of West German state caught in the grip of anti-terrorist mania.
The BMWs began to shed their staid reputation among Germans early in the seventies, benefiting immensely from the new connection to the Baader-Meinhof Gang. Among younger Germans, the BMWs became hip and cool. Perhaps not coincidentally, concurrent with the rising prominence of the Baader-Meinhof Gang, BMW turned the corner financially and went on to become one of the world's most prominent, respected, and financially successful auto makers.

The BMW Diana’s

In touring car racing in the early 1960s, Hubert Hahne set the highlights for BMW. Hahne, who was born on 28th March 1935 in Moers on Rhine, and quickly discovered his passion for motor racing and in 1963 celebrated his first major success behind the wheel of a BMW 700, winning the European Touring Car Cup.

Picture courtesy BMW Historical Archives

The following year, Hahne dominated the German Circuit Championship with a BMW 1800Ti. By the end of the season he won an impressive 14 of the 16-round season, his most successful year. In 1966, he won another European Championship and, with a BMW 2000Ti, he mastered the challenge of the “Green Hell” in 9:58.5 minutes, thus being the first touring car driver to lap the Nürburgring in less than ten minutes. He also goes on to win the Spa-Francorchamps 24-hour race with Jacky Ickx.
In 1966 and the following years, Hahne also successfully competed in Formula 2 and established two world records at Monza. In 1969, he finished runner-up in the European Formula 2 Championship and entered several Formula One races. A year later, in 1970 he retired from Motor racing and now lives in Italy.

Picture courtesy BMW Historical Archives

Hubert Hahne, racing driver and BMW agent based in Dusseldorf presented one to his wife as a wedding present – ‘Diana Korner’ who was a German actress at the time. The “Diana” was a BMW 2002Ti with special equipment. Hahne decided then to carry out a small series of 12 cars, with the agreement of BMW, all painted of different colours, some with turbo engines or 6 cylinders. It is interesting to note that the numbers of chassis’s, as these cars are all successive, proving well that the Diana’s were not an official model in range BMW, the firm brought Hubert Hahne the necessary logistical support for the realisation of this very special series.

Picture courtesy BMW Historical Archives

These "Diana’s" were also equipped with steel sliding roofs, racing bucket front seats, electric front windows, 5-speed gearboxes, racing door mirrors, top tint front windscreen, twin headlamp upgrade, dashboard and panels on the doors covered out of deer.

Andy Andexer (Chairman of the 02 Club in Germany) owns the only road-going example and he knows of the other 2 (I think they are basket cases). His car is insured for €60,000.

Pictures courtesy of R. Stern

Entwicklung Codes – The forgotten E-Numbers.
Did you know BMW also made the following cars makes very interesting reading?

E504 8-Cylinder 503 with a 3 Metre wheelbase 1956
E113 4-Cylinder 707 to 1300cc Prototype in 1960
E124 4-Cylinder Student Wagon Prototype in 1966
E126 was the pre-runner of the E3 with a 2.6 Litre engine
E4 was a Plastic Prototype from Bayer 1968
E7 was the Electric 02 for the 1972 German Olympics
E11 was an E3 with V8 Engine
E13 was an Amphian Prototype from 1970
E14 was a Jeep Prototype from 1970
E15 was a Plastic 2.8L Coupe again from 1970
E18 was a 6.5 Litre Coupe from Bizzarini 1970
E22 was a mid-Engine Auto based on the 2000 E121
E25 was the Paul Braq Turbo concept Codename X1 1975
E26 was a Sport Coupe based on the E25 with a M33 Engine
E28G was a Prototype E28 Touring 1977
E29 was an Electric E107 and the E29/2 was a City-coupe 1979
E33 was an E21 with Electric engine from 1980
E34S E34/5S were Hand finished M5 and M5 Touring
E36/5S E36 Compact with M3 Engine
E42 was 4-Cylinder car with Front Wheel Drive
E44 was a BMW Van project
E48 FWD Compact from Rover alliance
E49 FWD Compact from Rover but larger
E51 was a V12 Coupe cancelled with Rover
E53S was the X5 with the McLaren engine from the F1