1975 BMW 2002 Cabriolet – Project Profile

To tell the story of the BMW 2002 we have to go back to the beginning of the Swinging Sixties when the German auto maker had debuted its “Neue Klasse” roster of coupés and saloons. These cars not only paved the way for the 5-Series, appearing in its first E12 guise in 1972, but also pretty much saved the company’s bacon. Before the success of the New Class line-up BMW was in dire straits and was haemorrhaging cash left, right and centre. A year after the first 1500 arrived on the scene in ’62 BMW was out of the red and its future was assured.

Following on from the success of these cars BMW decided to produce a smaller, less deluxe version. Designated the 02 Class and precursor to the 3-Series, the first car to be built was the 1600-2; a two-door compact executive saloon. The brass at BMW quickly realised that the smaller, lighter and nimbler 1600-2 was much better suited to racing than its bigger brother and so a sporting version was born, ultimately leading to the 2002 Turbo and ti models, the latter of which won the 1970 24 Hours Nürburgring at the hands of Hans-Joachim Stuck, among many other successes.

It was in 1967 though that a convertible version of the 1600-2 was unveiled. Initially a full cabriolet it later morphed into a targa top car with fixed window frames in 1971 and switched from the 1.6-litre 1600 to the sportier 2.0-litre 2002, and hence the 2002 Cabriolet was born. Put together by German coachbuilders Baur, who had been building drop tops for BMW for decades, the 2002 Cabriolet was still powered by the same 100bhp, flat-four engine driving the rear wheels as the standard 2002 and is now a highly sought after and rare addition to BMW’s impressive oeuvre.

What is it? 

The car we currently have available for your bidding pleasure is a late-model, 1975 car in right hand-drive spec, which makes it even more of an exclusive proposition. It has covered a total of 60,455 miles and has recently undergone a full bare metal respray after being fitted with new sills, door skins and spare wheel well in addition to a top end engine rebuild and interior retrim.

Not only that but the the car has been undersealed and the original wheels have all been refurbished. Other mechanical works include new brake and fuel lines as well as new suspension components. But this is supposed to be a Project Profile, we hear you cry. Yep, we haven’t lost our minds, this BMW 2002 Cabriolet is very much being sold as a project because despite all of the good work that has already been completed there are still some areas to address.

Why is it a project? 

This is very much a “finishing off” kind of deal with various small jobs to be wrapped up. Beginning with the interior the re-trimmed Houndstooth wool upholstery does require the correct fitting of various parts and a new parcel shelf will also need to be sourced and installed. Outside the Baikal Blue paintwork is still fresh from the car’s respray last year but the windscreen does carry a small crack to the lower left corner and the surrounding trim needs to be properly fitted.

Mechanically speaking the car has had most of the major work completed, however it does still require some fettling to the steering and suspension as well as a repair to the fuel tank. The throttle linkage also needs to be looked at and the engine needs to be correctly tuned and then run in but there is nothing here that should present any real problems or stumbling blocks to the car’s journey back to its convertible best.

Five things to look for: 

1) Engine

The car has had a top end rebuild, which is great news because although the engines are hardy, iron block units the alloy cylinder head can crack. Ascertain, if you can, where the work was carried out. Was it a specialist garage or one by Colin in his shed? The listing states that the engine needs tuning but are there any other areas that need to be addressed? Also check any history for regular oil and coolant flushes.

2) Bodywork

Again, enquire as to who carried out the bodywork repairs and respray. Apparently there are a couple of scuffs on the body from storage but how bad are they? Will they buff out or does it need more paint? If the car has suffered from rust in the past it would be wise to inspect everywhere to ensure a corrosion-free example. Check the chassis too for any jacking damage.

3) Roof

This 2002’s ace in the hole, so to speak, is it’s convertible targa roof. The car has been fitted with a brand new mohair hood but check the fitment to ensure everything is snug and that it retracts and goes back up correctly and doesn’t leak. An inspection of the interior for any signs of water ingress is a good idea and listen for any excessive wind noise when driving if possible.

4) Suspension and Steering

We already know that the steering idler arm and front suspension bushes need attention but check the entire setup to see if anything else needs to be fettled with or replaced. The suspension is easy to work on though and parts should be readily available, despite the scarcity of the model itself.

5) Interior

Details are a little vague as to which interior parts need to be correctly fitted so inspect the entire cabin and any spare parts to determine the amount of work required and if there are any trim pieces missing or damaged. Electrics are limited but check what there is works as it should.

What should you do with it? 

This is an easy one – finish the thing and enjoy it. There’s not really that much to do with this particular example which makes it the perfect left-field classic to take on for the less experienced tinkerer. All of the leg work has already been done and so with a little extra time and money to give this BMW 2002 Cabriolet a final push over the line you’ll end up with an exclusive but practical classic that can be used for weekend fun or as a daily driver, the choice is yours. So head over to the listing for ALL the pictures and then get bidding.