BMW cemented its sporty image with the ‘02’ series

When BMW celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1966, it launched a model designed to compete in a segment dominated until then mainly by sporty Italian cars.

A two-door sedan was launched with the designation 1600-2, combining the characteristics of a sports car with a family saloon.
In its first year, the 1600-2 was offered for 8,650 marks ($5,945) only 1,000 marks ($687) less than the four-door sedan.
Although the 1600-2 came with a 85 hp engine with a top speed of 160 km/h and offered space for four occupants plus luggage, the response from buyers was muted.
Nevertheless, BMW realised it was onto something and the car played a major role in cementing the car-maker’s sporty image.
In the late 1950s, BMW had made several decisions on car models that had met with little success and concern strategists were under pressure to come up with something new.
The 1600-2 model was complemented with a convertible in 1967, the 1600 ti fitted with a more powerful 105 hp motor. In 1968 BMW did away entirely with the designation “-2” calling the new two-litre engined top version the “2002”.
Performance of the 100hp 2002 was later boosted to 130 hp with the 2002 tii model.
BMW began enjoying the success of the model range, introducing in 1971 the touring version that became a predecessor of the current sporty station wagons but had poor sales.
Another idea failed spectacularly. At the height of the 1973 oil crisis, BMW launched the 2002 turbo with a 170 hp engine and a top speed of 210 km/h. Only 1,672 units of the car were built between 1973 and 1974.
But all in all the “02” project was a real success. In 1973, the car received another facelift and in 1975 when the first generation 3-series should have replaced it, a new economical 1502 was launched.
The 1502 was not very sporty with its 75 hp engine but sold so well that it was kept running parallel to the 3-series until 1977. It accounted for nearly 10 per cent of the 831,734 vehicles built in the “02” series. Today BMW likes to describe the current 1-Series as a worthy successor to the legendary “02” generation.

By Heiko Haupt