Nearside exterior showing chrome grill and bumper on BMW 2002 1968 Pacific Blue.
BMW 2002
£38,000
£38,000
BMW 2002

BMW in post war Germany was in a tight spot. The BMW factory in Munich had seen heavy bombing in the years prior and was all but a ruin. The Soviet occupation in the East had taken the Eisenach factory off the board, forcing BMW to get by making domestic cookware and bicycles until the reintroduction of motorcycles to the production line in 1948 which helped to change the trajectory of the company.

History File

  • Mileage: 42,000 miles
  • Exterior Colour: Pacific Blue
  • Interior Colour: Light Grey
  • Transmission: Manual
  • Engine:1990cc
  • Previous Owners: 5
  • Date Of Registration: 24/06/1968
Rear offside exterior view of BMW 2002 1968 Pacific Blue.
History

The 1500 Neue Klasse saloon in the 60’s was a positive foray into producing new models, albeit on the more executive side. The Klasse revealed a gap in the market for a more affordable marque from BMW, who were at the time a largely unknown novelty in the U.S market, thanks to the Isetta bubble car made in partnership with the Italians.

The 02 as it was designated (02 meaning 2 door) was less equipped than the Klasse, shorter by 25cm with a spacious boot, room for a family of 4 and small dog. Lighter, faster and more nimble than the Neue Klasse, it was an enticing package. The 1600 engined M10 variant quadrupled BMW’s sales in the US, bringing BMW back from the brink of bankruptcy.

Two directors at BMW, Helmut Werner Bönsch and Alex von Falkenhausen both had the larger bored out two-litre version of the M10 engine fitted to their personal 1600-02’s. Across the pond, a dealer called Hoffman Motors had also identified a market for a 2.0 litre variant of the 02. With a proposal from Bönsch and von Falkenhausen, alongside Hoffman’s identical idea, reviewed and approved by the board in Munich, the BMW 2002 was born.

Engine bay on BMW 2002 1968 Pacific Blue.
History and Specification

This new 02 was fitted with a four cylinder 1990cc M10 engine featuring a SOHC configuration and single carburetor. Producing 100bhp with brake discs up front and responsive independent suspension, it would out perform almost all of its peers.

By the end of production in 1976, over twenty-six thousand 2002’s had been sold in North America alone. Thanks to a flurry of positive praise from journalists, with Car and Driver declaring it “the best $2500 sedan anywhere.” and Auto Bild titling the 2002 as ‘Fluster Bombe’ – The Whispering Bomb.

First registered 1968 in Pacific Blue, a paint finish unique to the year, it was used as a demonstrator by BMW Concessionaires of Brighton. It covered around 32,000 miles over the next three years with three separate owners, moving from Berkshire, to Bridgend, to Somerset. It would stay in the West Country with its fourth owner until one day the keys were misplaced. With the car tucked away safely in the garage, it was forgotten about, later replaced with another 2002. The Blue 2002 stayed in the garage for a staggering four decades.

Exterior offside view of wing mirror and centre console on BMW 2002 1968 Pacific Blue.
Preparation and Handover

With the passing of its owner, the 02 became part of an estate sale, where it was acquired by James the current owner, a 2002 enthusiast. The car had no logbook and still no keys. After a lengthy back and forth with the DVLA, James was unable to acquire a replacement V5.

It was by chance that James ended up talking to another 2002 owner in Wales, who had acquired the sister 2002 from the estate sale and with it, a hefty history file that included the keys and original green keepers documents for the Pacific Blue 2002.

The car was already in great unwelded condition, but with James being a dab hand with 02’s, it received a comprehensive recommissioning of the mechanicals whilst being entirely sympathetic to the car’s original untouched interior. The years in storage had been unkind to the paintwork and so a full respray was required.

Included with the sale are the original green keepers documents, complete service history, booklets, service invoices in Pounds, Shillings and Pence, as well as a few oddities such as ticket stubs for crossing the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Before being handed over to the new owner it will pass through our workshop for a final pre-delivery inspection to ensure full turn key usability.

Offside exterior showing chrome front grill and bumper on BMW 2002 1968 Pacific Blue.
Nearside interior showing steering wheel and gear stick on BMW 2002 1968 Pacific Blue.
Centre console on BMW 2002 1968 Pacific Blue.
Rear cloth interior on BMW 2002 1968 Pacific Blue.
Tax discs from the 1970's and BMW owners books.
Historic keepers documents and handbooks from the 1970's.
BMW 2002 historic keepers documents and handbooks.

This fantastic 2002 has many interesting small details unique to the early 2002’s and the 68’ year of production.

Close up exterior view of BMW badge on bonnet and front grill on BMW 2002 1968 Pacific Blue.
Close view of wheel with BMW badge on BMW 2002 1968 Pacific Blue.
Headlight indicator and front grill on BMW 2002 1968 Pacific Blue.

Our Thoughts

“There can be no better opportunity to own what has to be the earliest right hand drive example of a BMW 2002, in the most original condition that we have ever seen. Not a single bit of welding has ever been carried out to this car. Every single component on the car is still date stamped and cast with the build date of 5/68.” - Barney Halse

Offside exterior showing chrome trim and wheels on BMW 2002 1968 Pacific Blue.
BMW 2002
£38,000
£38,000
BMW 2002