Amazing Bavarian 1974 BMW 2002 Turbo Got Away in the U.S. for More Than $193k

In between BMW’s stubbornness to go for truly boring EV flagships and all the backlash to its styling choices for the 4 Series/M3/M4 models, it’s easy to forget that the humongous grille is rooted in history. Granted, back then, its dimensions were a bit easier to fit with the general atmosphere, but we digress.

We do so because the ancestor from between 1966 and 1977, the BMW 02 Series, had its own icon to wonder at. It was the 2002 Turbo, and its legend also reached the United States, enough so that an example that was up for grabs at auction on Bring a Trailer sold for no less than $193,100.

To put this into perspective, it’s more than a couple of 2021 M4s (it has an MSRP of $71,800) or about as much as three 2021 M2 Coupes, and you’d still be left with some change to buy a few tanks of gasoline along with a set of tires to burn rubber at the racetrack.

On the other hand, we really have no way of putting this mildly—we'd take the 1974 2022 Turbo any time of day and night. This example is too enticing with its disarmingly charming coupe styling, almost central single exhaust, minimalist interior, 2.0-liter tii M10 turbo four-pot, or BMW M colors...

According to the description, it has just 27,407 km (a little over 17k miles), so we know it was properly enjoyed for at least a while during its almost five-decade-long stint on planet Earth. Right now, it’s probably served with a well-deserved retirement brochure in a well-lit and air-conditioned garage. Well, it really doesn’t matter anymore, since it unfortunately already got away and found a new owner.