Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 2572059
Engine No. 2572059
With its lively single-overhead-cam four-cylinder engine, disc
brakes, independent suspension, and handsome styling, the BMW 1600
played a key role in reviving the sporting image the Bavarian
marque had enjoyed before World War II. Introduced in 1966, the
compact sedan quickly drew calls for more power, not least from
U.S. importer Max Hoffman, leading to the launch of the BMW 2002 in
1968.
Fitted with a 2.0-liter inline-four producing 100 horsepower, the
2002 struck the ideal balance between performance and practicality,
laying the groundwork for the modern sports sedan segment. Car and
Driver praised the 2002 as "the first car in history to
successfully bridge the gap between the wildly romantic car nut and
the hyperpragmatic people at Consumer Reports."
BMW Group Archives confirms this example was built on 1 April 1971,
finished in Riviera Blue (036), and delivered new through Hoffman
Motors of New York. The original window sticker shows the car was
equipped with Michelin XAS tires, tinted glass, reclining seats
with Skai upholstery, a tachometer, and torsion bar
stabilizers.
Since leaving Hoffman Motors, the car has amassed an extensive
record and photo dossier from 1998 onward, including the
restoration work completed between 2007 and 2010, with receipts
totaling over $45,000. Adding to the sporting credentials and
period-correct appeal of this BMW are the Ireland Engineering
header and exhaust system, lower and stiffer springs and sway bars,
a stainless steel short rear bumper, flush-mounted front turn
signals, Coco mats, yellow Cibie fog lights, three-point seatbelts,
and a Abarth leather-wrapped steering wheel. It rides on 13-inch
Compmotive Minilite-style wheels with Toyo RA1 tires and retains a
period-correct Sears AM/FM radio. Following its restoration, the
2002 has additionally benefited from a replacement headliner made
with the correct German sourced material in 2023 at a cost of
$2,400. In 2025, the car was serviced and tuned by DriverSource
Fine Motorcars of Houston, Texas includes upgrading the intake
manifold to accept two new 40 DCOE Weber carburetors.
Helping to establish BMW's sporting character in the U.S. when new,
the 2002 remains one of the marque's most celebrated models, with a
strong following today that remains charmed by their sporting
nature. Retained by enthusiast owners, this charming early
"roundie" remains a fabulous example of its type, boasting numerous
sporting upgrades that enhance its appeal.
