BMW 2002 range
The BMW 2002tii was the high-performance version of the BMW 2002. It was produced to satisfy demand for more performance from the ’02 line and it delivered with mechanical fuel-injection, wider wheels and bigger brakes.

Launched in 1971, the tii used the same, elegant body shell of its two-door relations. And although the shape was quite familiar by the mid-70s, it hadn’t lost its appeal and still managed to look fresh. The slender roof pillars, large glass areas and overall dimensions gave an impression of light weight and athletic ability. And the looks weren’t deceiving because the 2002 was nothing if not quick and light on its feet.

The interior continued the theme with a low scuttle and an airy feel, despite the black plastic used for the dashboard. A standard tachometer backed up the theory that this was a proper driver’s car. The grille was painted black and much of what would have been chrome on other cars was either painted or finished in stainless steel for a satin look, a style that was carried on in the early M3 and M5 models.

Power came from a two-litre four-cylinder; a capacity that was considered at the time quite large for such a small car. Even today, two-litres seems a lot of engine for something with the 2002 body style’s dimensions.

For the gearbox, a “four-on-the-floor” 4-speed, floor-shifted manual transmission with Borg-Warner synchromesh was standard equipment and a 5-speed ZF was optional. The tii also featured independent suspension all round and roll-bars front and rear. This model lasted until September 1975, when it was phased out and the first generation 3-Series took over. And if you take a hard look at the first 3-Series, you’ll see more than a hint of the 2002 in the way the window line, bonnet and general proportions work.

2002 enjoyed some time in the competition circles. The BMW 2002 was mainly touring car and it followed on the rally stages a somewhat lacklustre effort with the 2500CS (pre 6-series) and the 1800tisa (pre 5-series). However things seemed to change with the introduction of the 02-series (pre 3-series). The car saw its first rally successes in the building up period before the WRC started. First versions were the 1502 and 1602 and later the 2002, all with engines of according size to the names (or first two digits). When the WRC was launched, the car already evolved to the 2002tii, which was the 2000cc one with a 16v option. Although on the road market the 2nd “i” in the “tii” name referred to an injection engine, the rally car most of the time had a carburator layout.

Drivers were mainly Tony Fall and Achim Warmbold and the car’s biggest rally successes came in the hands of the German. He won the 1972 Portugal Rally and not long after the WRC started the Austrian Alpine Rally 1973. On the RAC 1973 Björn Waldegaard fought for the lead in the 2002tii, but he eventually came 7th after spending some time in a ditch. Looking back, the 2002 was easily BMW’s most successful, if also most serious attempt at rallying.

Had it not been for the oil crisis that spoiled the entire WRC 1974, BMW’s rally history might have been all different. The company was working on the first turbo charged rally car with the 2002turbo, a genius car hampered for being launched at the worst possible moment, right when the oil crisis started.

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