Description
This vehicle is Lot 173 to be auctioned by Bonhams at The Zoute Sale, Sunday 11th October 2026. Please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Auction Timings:
Lots 1 - 174 are to be sold from 12:00 local time on Sunday 11th October 2026.
Public Viewing:
Available 7 October 2026, 10:00 - 20:00 CEST
8 October 2026, 10:00 - 18:00 CEST
9 October 2026, 10:00 - 20:00 CEST
10 October 2026, 09:00 - 19:00 CEST
11 October 2026, 09:00 - 18:00 CEST, at the auction venue..
Lot 173
1970 BMW 2002 Cabriolet
Registration no.
Chassis no. 1558366
Engine no.
Exceptional provenance from new
Factory and coachbuilder documentation
Known ownership history
Comprehensively restored by Holucar Oldtimer Restoration 2015-2016
Only some 1, 000 kilometres since restoration
First registered on 22nd April 1970, the car offered here is the very first example of one of the rarest open BMWs ever produced. This BMW 2002 Cabriolet is not merely rare, it is the prototype: the original car that set the pattern for the following production model. Its unique status is confirmed by factory records and Bauer's contemporary documentation,
The foundation of BMW's post-war resurgence was the Neue Klasse four-door 1500 saloon and its derivatives, and the company capitalised on their success with the launch of a revised two-door range in 1966. Like the earlier cars, the new 1600 (later 1602) featured unitary construction, all-independent suspension and front disc brakes.
The larger, 1, 990cc engine produced 100bhp at 5, 500rpm in single-carburettor configuration and 120bhp on twin Webers when installed in the 2002TI. Models available on the 2002 platform comprised a two-door saloon, three-door Touring estate car, and a Cabriolet, the latter with coachwork by BMW's long-term coachbuilding collaborators, Karosserie Baur of Stuttgart. Built in extremely limited numbers (approximately 200 in total), these cars were effectively hand-crafted conversions. An immense commercial success for the German manufacturer, some 349, 000 BMW 2002s of all types had been sold by the time production ceased in 1976.
This Cabriolet prototype is supported by exceptional documentation, including the following:
Contemporary correspondence from Karrosserie Baur, confirming its status as the first cabriolet
Written confirmation from BMW Classic (December 2016) identifying chassis '1558366' as the very first BMW 2002 Cabriolet
Its original Kraftfahrzeugbrief (German registration document), dating from 1970, documenting its ownership from new
Restoration records
The Kraftfahrzeugbrief lists four owners who owned the car from 1980 until the commencement of its restoration in 2015, a remarkably long-term custodianship. Between 2015 and 2016, the BMW underwent an uncompromising 'last-nut-and-bolt' restoration by Holucar Oldtimer Restoration, a highly regarded German specialist. The restoration was executed with an emphasis on correctness, quality and long-term preservation. Retaining original components wherever possible, the works carried out included: a complete body restoration; fully renewed paintwork; all chrome trim restored; and a comprehensive retrim (seats, door panels, convertible hood, hood cover). Crucially, the car retains its original dashboard, instrumentation, radio and steering wheel.
Our vendor purchased the BMW in 2017. Finished in red with black leather interior and matching convertible hood, the car is presented in period-correct specification. It has seen only limited use post-restoration having covered approximately 1, 000 kilometres since the rebuild. The current odometer reading is 37, 676 kilometres.
As appreciation of BMW's early coachbuilt models grows, and as historically significant examples disappear into long-term collections, opportunities to acquire a car of this stature are becoming increasingly rare. Representing a milestone in the history of convertible BMWs, this 2002 Cabriolet Prototype is eligible for exhibitions, top-tier concours and marque-focused events, and is worthy of a place in any important private collection.
In short: it represents a possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire the very first BMW 2002 Cabriolet ever built. Combining unmatched historical importance, exceptional documentation and a world-class restoration, this prototype stands as one of the most significant BMW 2002s in existence.
€90, 000-100, 000
All lots are sold ‘as is/ where is’ and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness, mileage, engine capacity and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams website for all pertinent auction information.
