Background
BMW 1600 Convertible was one of the most exclusive versions of the BMW 02 Series. Based on the BMW 1600-2, its open body was produced by the Stuttgart coachbuilder Karosserie Baur. The model joined the range in the late 1960s, when the 02 Series was becoming one of the foundations of BMW’s new generation of compact sporting cars. The Convertible combined the light construction and rear-wheel-drive character of the 1600-2 with an elegant four-seat open body.
A full convertible by Baur
The BMW 1600 Convertible was considerably more than a 1600-2 with its roof removed. Baur built the cars for BMW largely by hand and strengthened the floor and other structural areas to compensate for the absence of a fixed roof. The result was a true full convertible without a permanent central roll bar. This distinguished it from later Baur TopCabriolet models, which retained a fixed structural bar to improve body rigidity.
The sporting character of the 02 Series
The BMW 1600-2, on which the Convertible was based, had introduced the 02 Series in 1966. Its compact two-door body, relatively low weight and rear-wheel drive gave it lively and driver-focused handling. The Convertible retained these qualities while adding open-air motoring and a more exclusive appearance. This combination made it one of the most distinctive road-going versions of the early 02 Series.
1.6-litre M10 engine
The BMW 1600 Convertible was powered by a 1,573 cm³ four-cylinder in-line engine from BMW’s well-known M10 engine family. It produced 85 hp at 5,700 rpm and drove the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox. Top speed was 160 km/h, an impressive figure for a compact 1.6-litre car in the late 1960s.
Rare and expensive
Baur’s labour-intensive construction made the Convertible considerably more expensive than the regular 1600-2. When new it cost 11,980 Deutsche Mark, around DM 2,000 more than the comparable closed model. The higher price and specialised production process ensured that the Convertible remained extremely rare compared with the mainstream 02 Series models.
Only 1,682 cars
BMW Group Archive lists the production period of the BMW 1600 Convertible as January 1968 to June 1971, although production of Baur-built 02 Series convertibles had already begun at the end of 1967. Only 1,682 cars were produced. BMW later continued the open 02 Series line with the 2002 Convertible and other Baur-built derivatives.
Historical significance
The BMW 1600 Convertible demonstrated the versatility of the 02 Series platform. The same basic engineering could form the basis of a practical compact saloon, sporting models and an exclusive open car. Today, its low production volume, hand-built Baur body and classic 02 Series engineering make it one of the rarest and most interesting early members of the model family.
Model in the collection
The BMW 1600 Convertible in my collection was produced by Minichamps. It is an official BMW dealer model.
Technical data in brief
Production period: January 1968 – June 1971
Body style: four-seat full convertible
Coachbuilder: Karosserie Baur, Stuttgart
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder in-line
Displacement: 1,573 cm³
Power: 85 hp @ 5,700 rpm
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive
Top speed: 160 km/h
Price when new: 11,980 Deutsche Mark
Production: 1,682 cars
Special feature: rare hand-built full convertible version of the BMW 02 Series by Baur
Photo of the real car. Source: auta5p.eu