BMW 2002 Cabriolet – The Prototype
Chassis no. 1558366 | First registered 22 April 1970
Highlights
-The Prototype, very first 2002 cabriolet built
-Only 200 produced
-Fully restored in Germany
The very first example of a model that would become one of the most elusive open BMWs ever produced.This BMW 2002 Cabriolet is not merely rare — it is the prototype, the original car from which all subsequent 2002 Cabriolets were derived. Confirmed by factory records and period coachbuilder documentation, it represents a cornerstone in BMW open-top history.
Model & Historical Significance
The BMW 2002 occupies a foundational place in the brand’s history, widely regarded as the car that established BMW’s reputation for compact, sporting saloons. Far less known — and exponentially rarer — is the 2002 Cabriolet, a model never mass-produced by BMW itself.
Instead, open versions of the 2002 were executed in period by Carrosserie Baur, BMW’s long-standing coachbuilding partner. Built in extremely limited numbers in the early 1970s (approximately 200 examples in total), these cars were effectively hand-crafted conversions, combining factory engineering with bespoke coachbuilt craftsmanship.
Among this already microscopic production, this car stands alone: it is the very first BMW 2002 Cabriolet ever constructed.
The Prototype – Why This Example Is Unique
The first BMW 2002 Cabriolet built
Prototype status confirmed
Chassis number: 1558366
Production date: April 1970
First registration: 22 April 1970
Above: No opening quarter lights on this model (correct as steeper front windscreen), also needs earlier elipsoid style mirror.
This car is supported by exceptional documentation, including:
Period correspondence from Carrosserie Baur, confirming its status as the first cabriolet.
Written confirmation from BMW Classic (December 2016), explicitly identifying chassis 1558366 as the very first BMW 2002 CabrioletIts original Kraftfahrzeugbrief (German registration document), dating from 1970, documenting successive ownership from new.
The Kraftfahrzeugbrief lists four recorded owners, the final being Frank Wingenhoff, who owned the car from 1980 until the commencement of its restoration in 2015 — a remarkably long-term custodianship that speaks to the car’s significance.
Restoration & Condition
Between 2015 and 2016, the car underwent a no-compromise, nut-and-bolt restoration by Holucar Oldtimer Restoration, a highly regarded German specialist.
The restoration was executed with a clear emphasis on correctness, quality, and long-term preservation:
Complete body restoration with fully renewed paintwork
All chrome elements restored
Interior comprehensively retrimmed:
Seats
Door panels
Convertible hood
Hood cover
Retention of original components wherever possible
Crucially, the car retains:
Original radio
Original instrumentation
Original dashboard
Original steering wheel
Presented today in red with a black leather interior and black convertible hood, the car offers a timeless and period-correct specification.
Mileage & Mechanical Status
Odometer reading: 37,676 km
Approximately 1,000 km driven since restoration
The car has seen extremely limited use post-restoration and remains in excellent, near-as-new condition
Prior to delivery, the car will be fully serviced, ensuring it is ready for careful use or immediate inclusion in a collection.
Documentation & Provenance:
Few classic BMWs — and almost no coachbuilt prototypes — are accompanied by documentation of this depth and clarity:
Original 1970 Kraftfahrzeugbrief
Continuous ownership trace
BMW Classic written confirmation
Period coachbuilder correspondence
Restoration documentation
This level of provenance elevates the car far beyond even the rarest standard 2002 Cabriolets.
Collectability & Market Position
Prototype cars with factory and coachbuilder confirmation almost never surface on the open market. As awareness grows around early BMW coachbuilt models, and as historically significant examples disappear into long-term collections, opportunities to acquire a car of this stature are becoming increasingly rare.
This BMW 2002 Cabriolet Prototype is:
A museum-grade reference car
A cornerstone piece for a serious BMW or coachbuilt collection
Eligible for top-tier concours, exhibitions, and marque-focused events
A once-in-a-generation opportunity to acquire the very first BMW 2002 Cabriolet ever built.Combining unmatched historical importance, exceptional documentation, and a world-class restoration, this prototype stands as one of the most significant BMW 2002s in existence.
For Sale here (April 2026); 1970 BMW 2002 – Cabriolet – The Prototype | Classic Driver Market
