BMW 02 Series

Overview

The BMW 02 Series is a range of compact executive cars produced by the German automaker BMW between 1966 and 1977, based on the larger New Class sedans. The series was a pivotal part of BMW's history, showcasing a successful combination of sporty performance, stylish design, and driving enjoyment. It significantly contributed to BMW's reputation as a manufacturer of sporty, driver-focused vehicles.

The 02 Series featured a two-door, three-box design that was both elegant and practical. Its size and agility made it popular among enthusiasts and ideal for city driving and spirited driving on winding roads. The interior was straightforward yet comfortable, focusing on driver ergonomics and clear instrumentation, embodying the BMW driver-focused design philosophy.

The 02 Series helped define BMW's brand identity as a manufacturer of sporty, well-engineered cars. It's often seen as the spiritual predecessor to the BMW 3 Series, which continued the tradition of compact, sporty sedans.

The BMW 2002, particularly in its tii (fuel-injected) and turbo variants, gained fame in motorsport, excelling in touring car racing and rallying. Its success on the track and rally stages helped cement the brand's sporty image.

Model Variants

BMW 1602 (1967 - 1975)

The BMW 1602 was a variant of the BMW 02 Series that debuted for the 1967 model year. The 1602, which was originally introduced as the 1600-2, was built in Coupe, Cabriolet, and Touring body styles. These cars were powered by the same 1.6L inline four engine from the New Class 1600, and featured a 4 speed manual transmission that sent drive to the rear wheels. A performance version, known as the 1600ti was briefly built, but was never offered in the United States. Many 1602s were also converted into Race Cars. Production of the BMW 1602 lasted until 1975.

Variants

• BMW 1602 Coupe (1967 - 1975)

• BMW 1602 Cabriolet (1968 - 1971)

• BMW 1602 Touring (1971 - 1972)

BMW 2002 (1968 - 1976)

Launched in 1968, the BMW 2002 came to exist through a serendipitous realization of two senior BMW staff. The head of product development and the designer of the famous BMW M10 engine realized they had both installed a two liter engine in their personal 1600-2 cars. Upon realizing this, they petitioned BMW to create a 2.0L version of the 02 Series. The BMW 2002 was initially available in two states of tune: the single carburetor 2002, and the twin carburetor 2002ti. Later notable variants included the 2002tii, as well as the legendary 2002 Turbo. Due to the popularity of the 2002, it was commonly converted into Race Cars.

Variants

• BMW 2002 Base Model (1968 - 1976)

• - 2002 Base Coupe (1968 - 1976)

• - 2002 Base Cabriolet (1971 - 1971)

• - 2002 Base Touring (1972 -1974)

• - 2002 Base Top Cabriolet (1972 - 1975)

• BMW 2002ti (1968 - 1971)

• BMW 2002tii (1972-1975)

• - 2002tii Touring (1972-1974)

• - 2002tii Coupe (1972-1975)

• BMW 2002 Turbo (1974-1975)

BMW 1802 (1972 - 1975)

The BMW 1802 was a variant of the BMW 02 Series that was introduced for the 1972 model year. The 1802 was offered in Coupe and Touring body styles, and was powered by the same 1.8L inline four from the BMW New Class 1800. Production of the BMW 1802 lasted until 1975, with a total of 83,351 examples built.

Variants

• BMW 1802 (1972 - 1975)

BMW 1502 (1975 - 1977)

The BMW 1502 was the two door coupe that was part of the BMW 02 Series. Using the 1573cc inline four engine from the New Class 1500, the BMW 1502 was produced between 1975 and 1977, with a total of 72,632 examples built.

Variants

• BMW 1502 (1975 - 1977)