1974 BMW

To understand how BMW arrived at this gloriously ill-timed idea, a little backstory is in order.

Post-war BMW had been dealt a rotten hand. Its Munich factory had suffered extensive bombing, while its Eisenach plant fell under Soviet control. Reduced to making household goods and bicycles, the company gradually found its feet again through motorcycle production before turning its attention back to cars.

The arrival of the Neue Klasse saloons in the 1960s marked a turning point, but BMW spotted an opportunity for something smaller, lighter and more affordable. Enter the two-door 02 Series, whose name reflected its shortened model designation. With its compact dimensions, practical boot and room for a family, it offered an appealing alternative to the larger executive saloons.

The 1600-2 helped establish BMW in the American market, but the idea of a more powerful version was already taking shape. BMW directors Helmut Werner Bönsch and Alex von Falkenhausen had independently fitted larger, two-litre versions of the M10 four-cylinder engine to their own cars. American importer Max Hoffman was pushing for much the same thing. With the proposals aligned, the board gave the green light.

The BMW 2002 was born, and its combination of punchy performance, sharp handling and everyday practicality helped establish the sporting saloon formula that would become a Munich speciality.

By 1971, the 2002 tii had raised the stakes further. Its two-litre M10 engine employed Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection to produce 130bhp, while uprated suspension and larger front disc brakes helped it make proper use of the extra performance. It was an accomplished little machine, but BMW's engineers had another trick up their sleeves.

Rather than simply chasing more capacity, von Falkenhausen and his team turned to forced induction. A KKK turbocharger was fitted to the tii's fuel-injected 1,990cc four-cylinder engine, lifting output to 170bhp and producing a remarkable 240Nm of torque.

The figures were serious business for a compact saloon weighing little more than a tonne. Zero to 62mph took around seven seconds, with a claimed top speed of 131mph. Porsche, meanwhile, had good reason to pay attention. BMW had taken a practical two-door saloon and given it performance figures that put it firmly in sports-car territory.

The transformation was more than a matter of plumbing in a turbo. The 2002 Turbo received wider wheel arches, a deeper front spoiler, distinctive Motorsport stripes and sporting bucket seats to keep its occupants in place when the road became interesting. It looked every inch the part.

That front spoiler also carried one of the car's most provocative flourishes. The2002 turbolettering in mirror writing, intended to appear the right way round in the rear-view mirrors of cars ahead. The production cars generally did without the reversed script, but the message, loosely translated, was something on the lines of “Come and have a go, if you think you’re hard enough!”

Under the bonnet, the recipe was relatively straightforward. A single overhead camshaft, 1,990cc inline-four, Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection and a KKK turbocharger, driving the rear wheels through a strengthened 4-speed Getrag 232 gearbox, or an optional 5-speedclose-ratio Getrag 235/5 dog-leg. A limited-slip differential helped put the power down, while independent suspension at both ends gave the 2002 Turbo the agility expected of the 02 Series.

Braking came courtesy of ventilated front discs and rear drums. By modern standards, that combination might sound a little lopsided, but as the little BMW weighed approximately 1,080kg, there was precious little excess to haul around.

The turbocharger, however, demanded a little patience. Below the point at which the boost really arrived, the engine could feel comparatively subdued. Push the revs towards 4,000rpm though, and the sleepy turbo would awaken with a considerable kick to the backside. The resulting surge could transform a quiet stretch of B-road into a rather more urgent proposition.

This was not the seamless, low-rev torque delivery of a modern turbocharged engine. When making deals with the Devil, a little turbo lag is all part of the bargain, and the sudden arrival of power demanded respect, especially when combined with rear-wheel drive and a short wheelbase. Get your timing right and the 2002 Turbo could be devastatingly quick. Get it wrong and the car's willingness to rotate could make for an embarrassing conversation with some local livestock.

It was a car that rewarded an alert driver rather than one simply stamping on the accelerator and hoping for the best.

The 2002 Turbo made its debut at an exceptionally unfortunate moment. Within weeks of its Frankfurt unveiling, the 1973 oil crisis began to reshape attitudes towards fuel consumption, with restrictions, fuel-saving measures and even car-free Sundays introduced in parts of Europe. A thirsty, turbocharged performance saloon was hardly the poster child for the new age of austerity. This troubled climate also meant that the 2002 Turbo fell short of the required 5000 units required for Group 2 homologation, with production halted after only a third of that target being met.

Its aggressive appearance also raised eyebrows. The Motorsport stripes and martial styling attracted criticism in West Germany, where the car's confrontational image struck some of the more conservative observers as distinctly uncouth. BMW had built a machine designed to provoke, only to discover that the public mood had shifted beneath its wheels.

Production ran from October 1973 until June 1975, with just 1,672 examples built. Every one was left-hand drive, as the placement of the turbocharger and associated hardware left insufficient room for a conventional right-hand-drive steering arrangement.

The 2002 Turbo's brief career was hardly a commercial triumph, but its significance was never measured by sales alone. It demonstrated what turbocharging could achieve in a relatively small, road-going performance car, laying down an important marker for BMW's future development of forced-induction engines.

Our Thoughts:

More than half a century later, its appeal is easy to understand. The 2002 Turbo took an already brilliant sporting saloon, added a dose of experimental engineering and wrapped the result in styling that refused to apologise. It was occasionally unruly, often intimidating and gloriously unfiltered.

In short, it was a very BMW way of making history.

We have been personally involved with this example since 2008, when a good customer instructed us to source the best and most original 2002 Turbo we could get our hands on.

Our search led us to the flat lands of Holland, where we visited a close friend who had cared for this exact car and knew its history intimately.

Originally supplied to an Italian enthusiast, we believe the car was ordered with its current specification, including the much sought after Getrag 5-speed gearbox and optional Turbo alloy wheels, an incredibly expensive option in 1974.

The car would later pass into the hands of a Frenchman, who commissioned our Dutch accomplice to oversee a no expense spared restoration, removing a roll cage and undergoing a full bare metal respray. Completed with new front wings, doors, bonnet and bootlid, the 2002 Turbo underwent a full mechanical restoration, including the last remaining brand new engine and KKK turbo from BMW Mobile Tradition.It was in 2008 that the car would be imported into the UK and into the care of the Hero Motor Company. During this time the car has featured in multiple publications such as Octane, Classic & Sports Car, and Werke, copies of which are included in the extensive history folder. We have now been instructed by the client to find a new custodian for this incredible 2002 Turbo.

With an indicated 75,500 kilometers on the bright red speedo cluster, this 2002 Turbo will pass through our workshop and undergo the very highest level of preparation. The rare Turbo alloy wheels have already been refinished in factory silver and wrapped in brand new Uniroyal Rain Expert 3 Tyres.

In addition the 2002 Turbo will receive an Inspection II Service, replacement brake fluid, coolant, new gear lever bushes, distributor housing gaskets and seals, new front bumpstops, new rear brake cylinders and gearbox rear oil seals.

With any vehicle of this kind, the bodyshell will undergo the Hero future-proofing process. The underside will be washed clean of dirt and contaminants, and any areas of surface corrosion taken back to bare metal, chemically neutralised and factory product and paint finish skillfully reapplied. A final coat of clear cavity wax will ensure the integrity of this astonishing 2002 Turbo will remain intact and protected for years to come.

Included in the history file are photos of the car's original restoration in Holland as well as inches of history and invoices, certificate of authenticity from BMW classic, spare keys, all booklets and service wallet as well as copies of the 5 publications the car has featured in.

Full Specification:

Date of First Registration: 01/01/1974

First UK Registration: 08/05/2008

Engine: 1996cc

Previous Owners: 4

Mileage: 75,500 Kilometers

Transmission: 5-Speed Manual

Left Hand Drive

Exterior: Chamonix White

Interior: Black Vinyl

Mahle 15" Alloy Wheels

Getrag 235 - 5-Speed Gearbox

Turbo Sports Seats

Turbo Sports Steering Wheel

Tax: Exempt

MOT: Exempt

ULEZ: Exempt