The end of the 1950s was a dark time for BMW, but the firm's ingenuity would birth an icon: the BMW 2002. The company's offerings coming into the 1960s were outdated. Underpowered by contemporary standards, they relied primarily on motorcycle engines to power their economy class cars. With low sales figures and poor profit margins, BMW collected more debt than it could repay and was quickly approaching bankruptcy. In 1959, the board proposed a merger with Daimler-Benz in a last-ditch effort to avoid financial ruin, but dealers and shareholders were staunchly opposed. A counter-proposal brought forward by Dr. Friedrich Mathern suggested a complete revitalization of the current lineup: the Neue Klasse project. This new range of vehicles would save the company and set a precedent for a corporate design language that remains relevant to this day. Still, no car was as pivotal in the resurrection of BMW as the 02 Series. The small, two-door sedans were economical, reliable, of high quality, and were a joy to drive. Due to the 02’s nimble and responsive handle it is accredited with birthing the "sports sedan" segment to life. The 2002, so named because of its 2.0L M10 engine and 2-door layout, was the most popular and well-loved offering in the 02 lineup. This prompted the company to produce sport-oriented variants for those needing both practicality and performance.
This 1973 BMW 2002 is the performance-oriented Tii version, equipped with a Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection system, producing 119 horsepower from a robust 2.0L inline-4 engine. It is finished in its original Chamonix white paint and Atlantik blue interior, a classic and highly desirable color combination for the Neue Klasse sport sedans. It was luxuriously equipped with both a sunroof and a Behr air conditioning system from the factory. This Tii has been recently treated to a full restoration and still retains its original, numbers-matching engine and transmission. The engine was rebuilt to its factory specification by Meccanica BMW in Los Angeles in 2019, while the bodywork was completed by Bells & Vaughn in Pasadena the same year. Throughout its detailed restoration, every nut and bolt was either refinished or replaced using primarily OEM parts. The only deviations from stock come in the form of an upgraded swaybar, a RetroSound Bluetooth head unit with hidden under-dash speakers, and an upgraded A/C compressor to better handle the Southern Californian heat. All stock parts have been preserved and are included with the sale. This spectacular 1973 BMW 2002tii comes with significant service history, a BMW heritage certificate, and complete restoration documentation.
