Quick information
🏎️ BMW 02 Series E114
📍 Germany
🛠️ “1600-2” 85HP
💨 around 12 seconds
🔝 around 160km/h
💶 No longer on sale
What is it?
The 02 Series was a pivotal car for the BMW brand’s economic revival in the 1970s: as a small premium 2-door vehicle, the 02 Series was sold in nearly one million units over its production period (1966-1977). This BMW had to compete with equally successful Italian cars, such as the Alfa Romeo Giulia, the Lancia Fulvia and the cheaper Fiat 125.
Design
The 02 Series has a simple and traditional shape characterized by classic lines and the iconic double front grill. The headlights are perfectly round both at the front and at the rear. The interior is also simple and minimal. The dimensions are 4,23 meters in length and 1,59 in width for a weight of about 1000kg.
Mechanics
The BMW 02 Series was also a traditional car from a mechanical point of view: 4-speed manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive, single carburetor injection, mixed braking system (front disc and rear drum) were used, all solutions already tested for years by the Bavarian brand. The first engine to be marketed was the “1600-2”, whose power amounts to 85HP.
Evolution
During its 11 years of production, the 02 Series hasn’t changed much aesthetically, but various engines have been added to the range. In 1967, the 105HP 1600 TI arrived, characterized by the presence of two carburetors instead of one. It should be noted that the models with the “TI” nomenclature have by definition two carburetors or a double barrel carburetor. The following year, the 2002 100HP debuted. The 2002 was the only one to be offered also with an automatic gearbox on request. Then came the 2002 TI 120HP with double barrel carburetor. In 1971, the 85HP 1602, the 90HP 1802 and the 130HP 2002 tii arrived. The 2002 tii was the first of the 02 Series to equip a mechanical injection system. In 1973, the most powerful was introduced, the 2002 170HP turbo, also with mechanical injection. To cope with the oil crisis of the time, in 1975 BMW also released a fuel-efficient variant, the 75HP 1502 with single-carburetor fueling.
