While I’m an 80s fan myself, it doesn’t take much imagination to see why the classy Bimmers of the 70s have so many fans. From the E9 to the Bavaria, this was the era that really saw BMW gain worldwide acclaim as the people’s sports car. The 2002 is one of the main reasons BMW is still cashing checks on their reputation for sports sedans, bringing great handling and smart styling to the world, along with some delightfully funky colors. Today’s Golf Yellow example features one of the hues that might be maligned on most cars, yet seems playful and fitting on these machines that seem to perform so many duties well. Quite clean at first glance, this example is not without its share of needs, but none severe enough to keep it from being a fun driver immediately. A 5-speed from an E21 helps perk it up from the original slushbox, along with headers and exhaust. There are many tasks to be completed if you want this to be among the super clean Neue Klassen, but the tinted windows will help hide the inside while the attractive exterior distracts.
Tag: neue klasse
Do you want to stand out in the vintage German crowd? There are plenty of expensive ways; drop a couple of million on a barn find 300SL Gullwing and everyone will be talking about you. But, say you don’t have a few million? Well, even for the modest budgeted enthusiast, many of the classics are heading out of reach. In the world of BMWs, vintage 3.0s are heading towards six figures for the best examples and even the 2002 – the car that started the craze of BMW’s sport sedan heritage – can be an expensive proposition for an average enthusiast. If you want a really nice example, you’ll be spending between $25,000 and $30,000 for a good carburetor example. Tiis are even more highly sought, pushing $50,000 for the best examples. Even a top condition lowly Isetta can run over $40,000. That doesn’t mean you’re pushed out of the classic BMW market if you’re not made of money; witness the BMW 2000, the semi-forgotten sports sedan that shared much of its architecture with the 2002 but offers 4-door sports sedan practicality:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1967 BMW 2000 on eBay
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If the 2002 has developed a following far outside of the cult-status of many of the other BMW models, it’s sister is still relatively forgotten. Add two doors to the 2002 and you got the BMW 2000; with slight styling changes to the front and rear in addition to the 4 doors, these often-overlooked sedans are nonetheless equally stylish and neat to see. However, because they’re not in the limelight, a clean 2000 sedan will set you back significantly less than the nearly identical 2002; mid-range values on good examples of a 1970, like this one, are around $12,000 while the 2002 pushes closer to $18,000 or more. For my money, I actually prefer the look of the 4-door like this Granada Red survivor example:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1970 BMW 2000 on eBay
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We’ve seen some cool 2002s around GCFSB, but most have at least some level of modification or updating. Today’s 2002tii comes in the amazing Riviera Blue, a subtle hue that suits the vintage lines perfectly and is a new personal favorite. Having been with just two owners and covering less than 70k miles in its four decades years, it has been very well cared for and shows a few spots of patina but overall is in incredible shape. The all-original look, especially with this color and wheel combo, makes it hard to imagine a modified ’02 looking any better.
Click for details: 1973 BMW 2002tii on eBay
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Wagon, avant, touring, shooting brake, longroof – however you wan to call it, I’ve always had a thing for cars with a little more junk in the trunk. This is amplified when it is a unique variant that was never sold in the US. Case in point, today’s two beautiful Neue Klasses eschews the classic 3-box shape of what many consider the original sports sedan, and instead has a great little hatch mated to that unmistakable, round-eyed front clip. Both have less than 120k miles and are asking significant mark-ups over standard 2000 BMWs.
