I hadn’t prowled for CCs in a little while, and I felt that this day might be a good one, so I went far. The hunch paid off – even more than I bargained for. I’ve been having a few of these multiple encounters lately, but seeing two BMW 2002s in under an hour was pretty unexpected. Normally, it’s something more JDM, like triplets of AE86s or a sequence of Skylines. No, today was going to be blue and white and Corvair-esque all over, albeit with a twist.
I found the later car first. And boy, that one was not about to hit the road. This late-model 2002 Automatic obviously met with something that fundamentally disagreed with its weltanschauung. I saw it and winced. I’m sure a few of you are wincing now seeing this, too.
It was a sad sight, but I had caught it right next to a specialist repair shop, so this poor BMW is going to get the attention it deserves quite soon.
Because of the close proximity to that workshop, which was open, busy and guarded by a very vocal Doberman, I did not take all that many photos. But I snagged enough images to get a sense of how badly battered this beautiful Bimmer was.
I wonder how the impact affected the lovely 1990cc engine this car is renowned for. Looks like the shock of the accident turned it into a dual carb version! Strange, as the Automatic was supposed to be the peaceful one of the bunch. But then the twin tailpipes should have clued me in.
They sold about 36,000 of these 3-speed autos between 1969 and 1975, though this one is obviously a late model with the (ugly) square rear taillights. That means about 10% of all 2002s were automatics.
Not half an hour later, in front of a factory, I bumped into this lovely 2002 Ti, made sometime between 1968 and 1972. Now this one should have a twin-carb set-up from the factory and a higher compression engine providing 118hp, whereas the Automatic should only have 99hp to play with.
This one was obviously in much better nick, but there was one niggle: because they are shaped with such a prominent brow ridge above the headlights, without a front bumper, I find these cars have a very unbalanced esthetic. Maybe they just took it off to mend or re-chrome it. Bumpers gonna bump.
Looks like Japanese BMW 2002 owners agree that the best steering wheel for the job is a Momo-like item. Given how thoroughly uninspiring the stock wheel is, one cannot really fault that logic.
Unfortunately, I was prevented from documenting this car further by two guys on a smoke break who were wondering what I was doing there. They weren’t aggressive about it of anything – I was admittedly quite far away from home base, out in Saitama prefecture, and checking where I was on one phone while taking photos with the other. They told me how to return to Tokyo and told me I was at least an hour away (I was on a bike).
It took me closer to 40 minutes to get back, but I did have to cross three rivers to get there. So it’s a good thing I found these 2002s when I did, because I’m not sure when I’ll be able to go back in that area again soon. The weather is already turning muggy and will get torrid and rainy soon – in my corner of the world, the best days for CC hunting are behind us for 2021 already. Here’s hoping there will be many an exception to this rule, and that the owner of that white 2002 was insured and unhurt.
Related posts:
Curbside Classic: 1972 BMW 2002 Tii – Fifty Years Of Unbeatable Success, by PN
Curbside Classic: 1973 BMW 2002tii – In Need Of Rescue, by Perry Shoar
Curbside Classic: 1976 BMW 2002 – The Ultimate Big-Bumpered Driving Machine, by Tom Klockau
CC Capsule: BMW 2002 – Why Would You Use A Vintage BMW For A Home Depot Run?, by Jim Grey
CC Capsule: 1972 BMW 2002 Tii – Simplii Extraordinarii, by T87
CC For Sale: 1973 BMW 2002 tii – Beautiful, But Beware!, by Tom Klockau
Vintage Review: 1968 BMW 2002 – Car and Driver’s David E. Davis Picks Favorites, by GN
Road & Track Tested in Europe: 1974 BMW 2002 Turbo – “Watch Out!”, by PN
Neighborhood Outtake: BMW 2002 – Evergreen, by PN
Curbside Outtake: 1972 BMW 2002 – A Study in Grüne, by Ed Stembridge
Curbside Outtake: 1971-73 BMW 2002 tii – These Happy Golden Years, by Ed Stembridge
Curbside Outtake: 1975 BMW 2002 – Exactly Like The One Stephanie’s Mom Had, by PN
COAL: 1974 BMW 2002 – Rust-Bucket Resurrected, by Matt Spencer
COAL: 1976 BMW 2002 – My Real Impulse Buy, by Sam
Front end of the one without a bumper looks like a shark and not a good one!
Ooof. So sad. I hope that 2002 gets the love it needs, even despite being a square taillight (which I don’t mind) and an automatic.
Does anyone here know if the rear sheetmetal around the taillights is any different on round vs. square taillight models? I always think i can see what looks like a big hole for the old round lights peering through the outer edges of the new rectangular lenses. Basically I’m wondering if you can easily retrofit round lights on newer models.
Major bummer for the white bimmer. I don’t mind (actually perhaps prefer) the later ’02s, I think it’s due to when I was a kid one of the two carnivals that came to town every year had bumper cars shaped like 2002s. And with taillights that were modeled after the square ones.
The other carnival used the Saab 900 (or 99) as their bumper car model. Which I like too. It’s all about those early influences….
Our local Boardwalk bumper car ride still uses the Saab’s. Safe Swedish cars seem a better choice than 2002’s.
Sorry, but this one is totalled. A and B pillar of Neue Klasse (02-114) are among the most filigree and delicate constructions in car world. This is reason for the “upspring” hood and trunk, the only safety feature they have. BMW immediately changed pillar design with the E21 and never returned to that sort of hidden pillars.
You can see the collision damage going farther back than the dent by the trim alignment on the driver’s door.
An nothing wrong with the original steering wheel. Besides, you need that big wheel leverage for easy parking with no power steering, right?
I’ve driven these cars with both stock and smaller aftermarket wheels. By the standards of the time, they had light steering (especially with 165-13 tires) and the smaller steering wheels worked fine. And looked and felt MUCH nicer.
la673 and desmo,
I worked for a large BMW dealership in the mid 1970s, and have had several of these cars. The square lamps can be removed and the round ones installed, but there will be some small holes to drill, and others to fill.
Now about that accident damage: I seriously doubt ANY specialty shop will attempt to repair this wreck. It was probably taken there for the insurance inspection, and will be a write-off. I’m a court certified vehicle appraiser and a forensic mechanic. Just looking at photos tells me it’s a total loss. Will make someone a good parts car.
Looking at the wrinkle on the passenger side firewall, and the angle difference between the windshield “A” post and the vent window frame tells me this car is not repairable unless someone is willing to throw probably 3 to 4 times it’s value into the repairs [anything is repairable, given enough time and money].
The 3 speed slush-A-matic automatic transmission ruined any sporty feel the car had.
That can be repaired Ive seen a lot worse straightened out and back on the road, depends how much you want to spend insurance would total it.