BMW 2002 1968-1975 Photos, engines & full specs

With its light weight, nimble handling, and rock-solid reliability, the BMW 2002 was one of the key elements for the BMW brand in the 1960s. And it was the original predecessor of the BMW 3 Series, back in 1968.

In 1968, the Boeing 747 took off for its first flight and the Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon. In the same year, BMW launched the 2002 model. It was an evolution of the BMW 1600-2 model, based on a shortened platform of the “New Class Sedans”. The “-2” meant it was a two-door vehicle. The 2002 received its name due to a two-liter engine and a two-door bodywork.

The car had a simple design, with a three-box body. The hood and the trunk lid looked like they were floating on top of the side panels. It wasn't a mistake in design, but a unique method to gather attention and it worked. The very thin pillars of the car ensured a very good all-around visibility.

Inside, there was nothing special. Not even a stereo, but in 1969, as a favor for the American market, it introduced a 3-speed automatic gearbox. The flat seats were arguably comfortable. A thick steering wheel was installed to compensate for the lack of power-steering. There was no AC in the car, just the wide-open windows provided fresh air.

The 2002 featured a 100 hp engine, good enough to make the light, 960 kg (2116 lbs) car move quick around the corners. A more powerful version, the Tii, was introduced in 1971 and it was available with a choice of a 4- or 5-speed manual gearbox.