The launch of the car they associated their lofty expectations with took place in the year 1961, during the Frankfurt Motor Show. They gave the vehicle an agnomen ‘Neue Klasse’, which was true and sounded good from a marketing perspective. The ‘New Class’ appeared in showrooms at the beginning of 1962. One did not have to wait long to hear the popping of champagne corks at the BMW headquarters… sales statistics clearly indicated success.

You cannot offer a sought-after car in just one variant. So, in 1963 they developed a 90-horsepower 1800 and 1800ti models. The latter resulted from co-operation with Alpina, and its existence stemmed from the BMW’s keen sporting ambitions. The fact that sport is one of the most effective means of advertisement was an additional benefit. For homologation purposes they made two hundred copies of the 130-hp BMW 1800 TISA, which delivered a better than decent performance.

When talking about 2002 Turbo, it is worth mentioning the version with a two-door body marked with the index 02. When developing this version, experienced designers decided to change the axle and wheel spacing. They shortened the wheelbase by approximately 5-cm and narrowed the rear wheel track, making it the same as on the front axle. A 1600 cc unit was the basic engine. The two-door BMW debuted in early spring 1966. Both drivers and journalists believed a vehicle had just appeared with the potential to cause a stir on racetracks. We all know that appetite increases with eating. It was clear that it was still possible to achieve more, to make it better and faster. Subsequent tests gradually brought the engineers closer to the peak of possibilities, which turned out to be the creation of the hero of this chapter – the 2002 Turbo model.

BMW presented its 2002 Turbo in the fall of 1973 in Frankfurt. The enthusiastic reactions of potential buyers allowed us to assume that the Germans had created another sports bestseller. This would certainly have been the case had it not been for something that nobody could have predicted. In October, the Yom Kippur War broke out in the Middle East and although it only lasted for a brief time, it managed to cause quite a stir. After it ended, OPEC raised the price per barrel of oil from $3 USD to almost $12. Such an increase had drastic consequences: fuel prices skyrocketed, in several countries the authorities introduced rationing and there was even a ban on using cars on weekends. These were not favourable circumstances for a car that was not only called Turbo, but also looked like a turbo and drove like a turbo. It was really turbo.

The circumstances were not favourable, even more so because the sporting 2002 vehicle was ostentatiously pugnacious. The twelve pre-production specimens made in 1973 had nicely stylised ‘turbo’ lettering. The letters – in the form of a mirror image – were on the front bumper spoilers, so that the driver in front only needed one glance in their mirror to have no doubts about giving way. This exertion brought publicity, but not of the sort that they had expected. BMW became the subject of political discussions at a prominent level. A debate in the Bundestag, the German parliament, is not a minor issue. They decided that, in the face of the fuel crisis, displaying this type of inscription was inappropriate. But, although it didn’t fit with political correctness, it had a strong appeal to the drivers. As a result, the company stopped placing the ‘turbo’ lettering on the bumpers of mass production cars, but many owners have added such inscriptions on their own.

One could say that the start was bad, especially for a sports car. Fortunately, the poor beginning did not discourage the company’s management. Production of the BMW 2002 Turbo started at the turn of 1973 and 1974. Apart from the lack of inscriptions, the cars that finally went to the drivers did not differ from the pre-production models. Anyway, if the lack of stickers bothered someone, there was always the option of using those prepared by BMW Motorsport.

The BMW 2002 Turbo was the first turbocharged car in Europe. We may only guess how its fate would have turned out if it had made its debut in milder circumstances. In the face of the increasingly widespread crisis, in July 1975 the BMW management decided to say goodbye to the 2002 Turbo. They made 1672 copies, including 12 pieces of the signalling series. After years, the car benefited from modest production output since such limitations made it one of the most unique and sought-after BMW models, the ones that suit the Bonaventura Classic Collection extremely well.

The search for the car which you see in the photographs lasted two years. It ended up in Berlin, where the heirs of the first owner put it up at auction. Its history began on the 14th January 1974 when it left the production line. According to documents, the vehicle did not have to wait long for the purchaser; a gynaecologist from Zurich bought it in January. The production date and the number (4290050) indicate that we are dealing with a specimen from the first batch of the mass manufactured series. Let us add that, within the fifty cars of the first batch, there are the twelve from the pre-production number.

There are indicators showing that the doctor was using the car for recreational excursions and did not drive it extensively. At the time the present owner purchased the car, its odometer showed 48000 km of mileage. The Swiss owner died in 1985, but his wife decided not to sell his car. She did not change her mind until her death. So, due to that, the BMW spent as long as 30 years in a garage. Only in June 2015, thanks to the couple’s children, was the car sent to an auction house in Berlin. The heirs were aware that the vehicle, kept hidden for years, was not an ordinary antique item. They realised that the best way to determine its value would be to put it up for auction.

The first owner, the low mileage, the low VIN, authenticity confirmed by the DEKRA experts – all this was sufficient evidence to let the unique BMW car join the collection.

The situation was not so good because of the inaccuracy of the descriptions of the German auction. The description from the Berlin auction house showed that although the BMW had been standing for a long time, it was functional and had only isolated spots of corrosion. The low mileage was a fact, as was the fact that the car unfortunately needed a complete rebuild.

The conditions in the garage must have been bad. Three decades is a long time for the interior to become covered with mould and for body elements to rust through. The car disassembly revealed the awful condition of the sheet metal. Extensive pitting hid beneath individual corrosion points. Rust deposits were also on parts of the engine not started for years. One of the cylinders was damaged and the turbocharger was faulty. The renovation conducted using original parts, lasted five years. The interior renovation, conducted in Łódź, Poland, was difficult, but the result is excellent. They dismantled the seats, sandblasted the metal structure, painted, and re-upholstered them with the original upholstery. It took sacrifice to successfully restore the original rug. BMW Classic offers a new one, but unlike the original, it does not consist of one embossed element, but of six.

The overall renovation took time, but looking at the result, it was time well spent. Suffice it to say that the completed car easily passed TÜV certification. It received a counter reset to zero, which, considering the renovation standards, one should consider a great achievement. After so many years of oblivion in the garage, nowadays this BMW 2002 Turbo takes part in prestigious European events, winning numerous trophies such as victory in its class at the Sinai Concours d’Elegance in 2023.

If the Bonaventura Classic Collection did not have this item, it would have to purchase it immediately.