Background
BMW 2002 Baur Convertible was one of the most distinctive open versions of the BMW 02 Series and continued the long-standing cooperation between BMW and Stuttgart coachbuilder Baur. It entered production in 1971 following the extremely rare full-convertible BMW 2002. The new design retained the possibility of open-air driving while introducing a permanent central roll-over bar to improve structural rigidity and safety.
Successor to the full convertible
Baur had previously produced the BMW 1600 Convertible and, in 1971, also built 200 examples of the fully open BMW 2002 Convertible. Increasingly strict safety requirements made traditional full-convertible construction more difficult, however. Baur chief designer Hermann Wenzelburger therefore developed a new design combining the benefits of an open car with a more rigid body structure.
A distinctive roof design
The defining feature of the BMW 2002 Baur Convertible was its permanent roll-over bar. A removable roof panel was fitted above the front seats, while the rear section used a folding fabric roof. The rear side windows remained part of the body structure. This allowed the car to be driven in several different roof configurations while the central bar helped maintain structural rigidity.
BMW 2002 engineering
Mechanically, the Baur Convertible was based on the regular BMW 2002. Its 1,990 cm³ four-cylinder in-line engine produced 100 hp at 5,500 rpm. Power was sent to the rear wheels and top speed was 170 km/h. The open version therefore retained much of the sporting and driver-focused character that made the BMW 2002 so successful.
More than 2,300 cars
The BMW 2002 Baur Convertible was produced from July 1971 until January 1976. According to the BMW Group Archive, more than 2,300 examples were built. Unlike the earlier full convertible, right-hand-drive cars were also produced and exported mainly to the United Kingdom, Japan and South Africa. The car cost 14,985 Deutsche Mark when new.
Historical significance
The BMW 2002 Baur Convertible kept the idea of an open 02 Series alive at a time when the traditional full convertible was becoming increasingly difficult to produce. Its combination of a removable roof panel, folding rear roof and permanent roll-over bar anticipated a concept that Baur would later develop further on BMW 3 Series models. Today, the 2002 Baur Convertible is valued for both its rarity and its unusual body construction.
Model in the collection
The BMW 2002 Baur Convertible in my collection was produced by Neo Scale Models.
Technical data in brief
Production period: July 1971 – January 1976
Body style: two-door convertible with permanent roll-over bar
Coachbuilder: Karosserie Baur, Stuttgart
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder in-line
Displacement: 1,990 cm³
Power: 100 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive
Top speed: 170 km/h
Price when new: 14,985 Deutsche Mark
Production: more than 2,300 cars
Special feature: BMW 2002 with a permanent roll-over bar, removable roof panel and folding rear soft top
Photo of the real car. Source: classic-trader.com