I simply don’t get it dear reader. Is all the car culture in Honduras simply hiding away in garages across the country? Only let out once or twice in the early morning or at the end of a weekend afternoon where very few are in the road and so there are very few to see it? It’s the only way I can explain awesome cars appearing with some regularity on the local online classifieds.
Well, I say some regularity. The last time I saw something this interesting was that cool 230S almost exactly a year ago. In the same dealership too. There’s something very odd about that Hyundai dealership getting people trading in their rare and desirable German metal for some random motoring appliance. Yes they are old and taking care of them requires a bit more effort than just taking it to wherever and telling them to service it, but the rewards of having a classic car from a time where German cars were solidly built as well as exciting. Maybe they are put off by the lack of screens and Air Conditioning.
The ‘02s didn’t need all that sauce to sell. Partly because the market didn’t expect a miniature version of CERN in their cockpits, partly because they were just so damn good cars. The Neue Klasse set the template with which BMW moved away from Isettas and 700’s and into the ultimate driving machine reputation that it seems desperate to get rid of nowadays. Oh well, their loss is our gain; and what a gain it is too. Our featured model is a 1972 BMW 2000 Touring. Not 2002 Touring; that name would come with the 1973 models. Yes, it’s confusing, but since the Touring with its hatchback (“Heckklappe”) was never sold in the US, only the rest of the world had the opportunity to be thus confused.
Finished in Colorado Light Orange with a Blue/Black vinyl interior. Power comes from the 101-horsepower single carb 2.0-liter engine, and its output is sent to the back through a four speed manual transmission. Mileage is unknown. Well, unknown to us, it seems they have an intern who can’t spell the word “Halogena” and couldn’t be bothered looking at the odometer.
As with the 230S, words can’t accurately express how much I’d like to buy it and bring it to the Solis household. It would make a nice compliment to the ones we already have around. You have the one for hauling things, the one for hauling people and the fun one. That last space could be filled with a two-wheel vehicle of some sort of course, but opportunities like these are rare to come by. Alas, as usual it’s too expensive to afford…I think.
You see, along with forgetting the mileage, they’ve also decided to keep the price close to themselves, just leaving a space where the price should be with the word “Consultar” on it. That’s the Spanish word for “If you have to ask…”. The listing is here, and it has me wondering what will they come up with at around this time next year. Surely someone has a 1979 Audi 200 stashed away somewhere. You never know when him or his relatives will want a new Tucson.
I always thought the Touring was a nice update of and should’ve completely replaced the 02 sedan with its 1960 Falcon bubble back window, with all subsequent tintop 3 series being hatchbacks as well.
I believe that BMWs during the 1970s were not as upscale and considered luxurious like Mercedes Benz as they were from the 1980s-on. They probably used to compete directly with Toyotas, Chevrolets, Fords, Dodges, Volkswagen and even Mitsubishi from that era back then.
Whoever wrote the listing also doesn’t know the difference between an automatic and a manual transmission.
Nice find, in a good condition.
By the way, Schrägheck is German for a hatchback shape. The Heckklappe is the part that can go up and down, with our without a window.
Interesting website anyway, as it seems to have a special category for armoured cars. They seem to be sought after in Tegucigalpa: http://www.eligetucarro.com/2.0/listado.php?idm=126&url=1695900934c2a3dff47ca7.gif.jpg.jpg.jpg.jpg**Blindados#43419
Horrid color for a 2002 IMO, I normally find myself digging these hatch versions but with this paint it just looks like a Austin Maxi. The late model wheels (?)do it no favors either
Never warmed to this shape. Nice find.
Thought it was a late 60s Mitsu colt 1100 F at first glance, the similarity is uncanny only the roundel gives it away nice find.
I see an early 80s Saab coupe in the roofline.
Great find of one of my favourite BMWs.
Thanks!
Is that the right steering wheel? That looks like something from the 80s…
I picture BMWs from that era with a 3 spoke wheel with a round horn button/hub.
For that matter, are the bottlecap wheels period-correct?
Looks like an e30 steering wheel? (As I sold an ’89 e30 325iC 2 hours ago with the same wheel). An e30 steering wheel will not fit! The splines are finer.
But who knows with all the Euro specs? Maybe they swapped out the steering wheel spline?
Bottle caps 14″ wheels are e30 (’84-’90?). The offset on the those wheels SHOULD rub the tie rods? Oopps, I’m wrong… I have seen those wheels on ’67-’76 2002’s. I know they rub on e21 320i ’76-’83. Oh well…
This is one of my 2002 tii touring,and how they should look like 🙂
Starts with high rpm
Mikael,
That looks like a beautiful unmolested original specimen. Are the flush Italian front turn signals OEM for that car? The ’77-’83 e21 13″ Turbine wheels, look better than the original OEM wheels.
I just love my tii touring
The Italy is from 1975 direkt from the box NOS
I also think that the turbine wheel fits well, I like small wheels at 02
As these 7½x13 on my 1502 turbo
Yes, I started with the 7 1/2″ X 13″ turbines… & tried many other wheels. I settled for 13″ Minilite Replica’s.
Today, the preferred wheel is as BIG as one can go, with the lowest profile tires possible. That’s great for bending expensive rims on normal roads. But, I’m “old school” like you.
I’ve owned 6 2002’s, however, I kept my ’72 here… the first one I bought for $1 from my brother in 1986.
What manufacturer rear deck spoiler is that on your red turbo? Is it foam or fibreglass?
Mine is an aftermarket fibreglass one from Ireland Engineering in California, USA.
😎
your fit well on your 72a,i also have a 2002-72 back in the days
On my turbocar i have Wolfrace and Toyo 888,i have tested different wheels but like small rims,this brand new W-Germany Schnitzer is a bad ass rim,i have them soo long just sitting ,like art in my garage
I never knew of the Tourings until I saw two at a concours event in 2006; I was quite surprised to find that a hatchback variant existed since, as you mentioned, they were never sold in the US market. Must have been private imports that I saw. I do like the shape though; different than a regular 2002 but still with that unmistakable style.