Background
BMW 2000 tii Touring (E6) was the most powerful and sporting version of the BMW 02 Series Touring range. Introduced in 1971, the Touring brought an innovative three-door hatchback body to the BMW line-up, combining the sporting character of the 02 Series with considerably greater practicality. The 2000 tii Touring added a 130 hp fuel-injected engine and became the flagship of the Touring family.
An innovative Touring body
The 02 Series Touring was designed by Paul Bracq at BMW. Compared with the conventional 02 Series saloon, it featured a steeper windscreen, a rear section shortened by around 12 centimetres and a large upward-opening tailgate. This type of body was still unusual in the early 1970s, combining coupé-like styling with the versatility of a hatchback. Although the Touring was not a major commercial success at the time, its concept appears remarkably modern today.
Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection
The 2000 tii Touring was powered by a 1,990 cm³ four-cylinder in-line engine equipped with Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection. It produced 130 hp at 5,800 rpm and 178 Nm of torque. The same engine was used in the BMW 2002 tii and gave the practical Touring impressive performance for its era.
190 km/h
Power was sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox, while a five-speed sports transmission was also available. BMW Group Archive lists a top speed of 190 km/h. For particularly sporting customers, BMW also offered an optional Rally Package featuring equipment such as alloy wheels and Recaro sports seats.
From 2000 tii to 2002 tii
During the early production years, the model was known as the BMW 2000 tii Touring. From the 1973 model year, BMW revised the naming system of the 02 Series Touring range and the sporting flagship became the BMW 2002 tii Touring. Mechanically, it represented a continuation of the same model line. As the model in my collection represents a 1972 car, BMW 2000 tii Touring is the correct name for this particular example.
A rare sporting Touring
The BMW 2000 tii Touring and the later-named 2002 tii Touring were produced from April 1971 until April 1974. A total of 5,783 cars were built. Compared with the mainstream 02 Series models, the Touring remained relatively rare, while the 130 hp tii was the most sporting and exclusive version of the range.
Model in the collection
The BMW 2000 tii Touring (E6) in my collection was produced by Minichamps and represents a 1972 car. It is a limited-edition model, with a total production run of 2,640 examples.
Technical data in brief
Production period: April 1971 – April 1974
Body style: three-door five-seat Touring
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder in-line
Displacement: 1,990 cm³
Fuel system: Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection
Power: 130 hp @ 5,800 rpm
Torque: 178 Nm
Transmission: 4-speed manual, optional 5-speed sports transmission
Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive
Top speed: 190 km/h
Price when new: 13,653 Deutsche Mark
Production: 5,783 cars in the BMW 2000 tii Touring / 2002 tii Touring model line
Special feature: the most powerful 02 Series Touring, featuring Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection
Photo of the real car. Source: bmwgroup-classic.com