Tuning a classic? Is it worth the time and the money? Well, it depends on the classic. Manhart has just swung the magic wand toward a BMW 2002 tii already modified by Alpina. And this is what came out.
The BMW 2002 tii was one special car. It instantly drew attention. It was pretty potent for its time, and – what mattered the most – it was light. BMW built 38,703 units. And one of them is Manhart's latest project and the oldest car they have ever worked on.
This 1971 BMW 2002 tii rolled off the assembly line in the model's first production year, with the fuel-injected 2.0-liter engine codenamed M10, capable of 128 horsepower (130 PS) and 131 lb-ft (178 Nm) of torque that made the car hit a top speed of 115 mph (185 kph).
But this is no ordinary tii since it comes with various Alpina mods. Over that layer of upgrades, Manhart spread some in-house magic dust. So, this is how the over-a-half-a-century old BMW went straight to 197 horsepower (200 PS) and 159 lb-ft (215 Nm). It was all thanks to an Alpina manifold working in the company of the K&N airbox installed by the German tuning house.
All these figures may not sound like much by today's standards. But keep in mind that we are dealing with a car that tips the scales at just 2,200 pounds (1,000 kilograms). That weight would now put the classic BMW in a league of its own, where maybe only models such as the Mazda's Miata MX-5 or the Lotus Elise would dare to step in.
Before it drove into the Mahart workshop, the 1971 BMW 2002 tii had received new brakes with ventilated discs on the front axle and disc brakes at the rear.
Photo: Manhart
The owner had performed a transplant, replacing the original transmission with a five-speed manual unit borrowed from an E21 323i, which was the successor of the 2002 tii. Manhart came up with Raab coilers and a Wiechers strut brace. The list of upgrades also includes a new exhaust system lift.
Decorative stripes in light green and silver show up on the car, which is painted in Agave Green. The car rides on 16-inch three-piece Alpina wheels, pushed to the edges to feel the Alpina flared arches that insiders affectionately call 'pig cheeks.' The wheels measure 215/40 R16 at the front and 225/40 R16 at the rear.
There are the original Alpina-made School seats on board with stripes in light green and blue, restored by Manhart's Classic Cars department. The German tuner also fitted a Clusport roll bar in there.
The 1971 BMW 2002 tii is the oldest car that the Manhart experts worked their magic on. Yet they are used to classics. They have recently modded a Lancia Delta Integrale and an E30 BMW M3. So stepping back in time seems to become a house specialty.
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