Background
BMW 2002 Convertible was one of the rarest road-going models of the BMW 02 Series. Built in 1971, it continued the idea of the earlier BMW 1600 Convertible but combined the open body with the more powerful 2.0-litre engine of the BMW 2002. The body was produced for BMW by the Stuttgart coachbuilder Karosserie Baur. Its very short production period and total production of only 200 cars make it one of the most exclusive members of the 02 Series.
Based on the BMW 2002
The Convertible was based on the regular BMW 2002, one of the best-known and most successful versions of the 02 Series. Its compact body, rear-wheel drive and relatively low weight gave the car a sporting and driver-focused character. Removing the fixed roof, however, required substantial reinforcement of the floor and other structural areas to maintain sufficient rigidity and good handling.
A full convertible by Baur
The BMW 2002 Convertible was a true full convertible without a permanent central roll-over bar. This gave the car a particularly clean and elegant profile with the roof lowered. Karosserie Baur was already an experienced partner in the production of open BMW models and had previously built the BMW 1600 Convertible. The 2002 followed the same principle but combined it with the stronger engine and more mature engineering of the later 02 Series.
2.0-litre four-cylinder engine
The BMW 2002 Convertible used a 1,990 cm³ four-cylinder in-line engine producing 100 hp at 5,500 rpm. Power was transmitted to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox. Top speed was 170 km/h, giving the open 02 Series strong performance for its era.
Only 200 cars
Only 200 examples of the full BMW 2002 Convertible were produced, all in 1971. The car cost 14,208 Deutsche Mark when new. Later that same year it was replaced by a revised Baur-built open version featuring a permanent central roll-over bar to improve structural rigidity and safety. The original fully open 2002 Convertible is therefore considerably rarer than the later roll-bar version.
Historical significance
The BMW 2002 Convertible represents a brief but fascinating chapter in the history of the 02 Series. It combined the sporting engineering of one of BMW’s most successful compact cars with the elegant form of a traditional full convertible at a time when open-car construction was changing rapidly. Its low production volume and hand-finished Baur body make it one of the rarest versions of the 02 Series today.
Model in the collection
The BMW 2002 Convertible in my collection was produced by Minichamps and represents the rare full-convertible version built in 1971. It is an official BMW dealer model.
Technical data in brief
Production period: 1971
Body style: four-seat full convertible
Coachbuilder: Karosserie Baur, Stuttgart
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder in-line
Displacement: 1,990 cm³
Power: 100 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive
Top speed: 170 km/h
Price when new: 14,208 Deutsche Mark
Production: 200 cars
Special feature: exceptionally rare full-convertible BMW 2002 with a body produced by Baur
Photo of the real car. Source: bringatrailer.com