The BMW 2002 is a much-loved classic, and for several good reasons. We head to Moto Village outside Cape Town to drive a beautiful example.
Words & Images: Wilhelm Lutjeharms
As I’m handed the key to the beautiful maroon 1971 BMW 2002, I’m again immediately reminded of the vast and successful racing history of this model range, as well as the other BMWs from this era. From the hills to the race tracks of Europe, these cars lay the foundation of some of BMW's most successful racing outings in the late Sixties, and early Seventies. When you open the door and get inside, you are truly taken back more than five decades to a time when cars were such, relatively speaking, simple items...
The current owner Harley Nash elaborates on his love for this car and its history. “Everything on these cars are really well-engineered. If it is not working perfectly, you have done something wrong – that is partly what attracted me to these cars. Over the course of ten years I’ve restored the car by either replacing or rebuilding the various parts. The fulfilment I got was actually stripping something down and rebuilding it. Whether it was the wiper motor or differential. I still have another 2002 which is a car I use more regularly, so I decided to sell my best one. It is a wonderful thing to look at and a wonderful thing to drive.” Watch the video below to learn more about the early years of Journeymen.
The cabin
Inside, you are firstly greeted by vinyl-upholstered and restored seats, but the entire has obviously been carefully restored. Even if you tuck your head below the dashboard, all the new wiring, fittings and pipes are immediately evident. This is owing to a full air conditioning system which has been installed in the factory space… and it works!
It's a great job done by none other than Cape Town's very own Journeymen, which we have featured before. The 2002 has a large glass house, like a lot of cars from this era. Your view is nearly unobstructed right around you, with only the thin pillars dividing the near 360-degree view you enjoy.
The door handles are neatly positioned within the grab handle on the door cards. There are also triangular windows that you can open for extra airflow. Position them to direct the air into the cabin and you will be surprised by the amount of air that flows into the cabin. The short gear lever to your left has a neat wooden gear knob.
To assist in keeping an eye on the drivetrain’s vitals, there are oil pressure, coolant temperature and ampere metres. Other than that, it's a straightforward, driver-focused, neatly simplistic cabin. There is a cigarette lighter, a knob to turn up the aircon speed, and a light switch. There is no rev counter, but there is a speedometer in the middle and a clock on the right.
Behind the wheel
As I move into the traffic, the mechanical gear shift action is immediately a highlight. In standard 2002s, there are only four gears to choose from, but thankfully, this car has been fitted with a five-speed unit from a BMW E21. The result that you can no cruise at much lower revs on the open road and enjoy the lower gears when a few corners present themselves. Ou Kaapseweg outside Cape Town is one of the highlight routes in the vicinity of the Mother City, and although it can get quite busy, you can also strike it lucky and get a (quiet) gap.
It is on a road such as this where you can enjoy the brisk performance of the 2002. There's an eagerness from the 2.0-litre engine which is quite surprising. Keep in mind that 2002 only weighs around 950 kg, so even going uphill there's a positive level of enthusiasm in the way it accelerates. There's also a rather fruity exhaust note for such a small engine.
You can really throw it into a corner and even with modest 165/R13 tyres all around, there is sufficient grip to enjoy. The unassisted large free spoke steering wheel allows you to hang on to it as the seats are more suited for cruising than offering lateral support. The 2002 feels relatively compact at all times and if you stamp hard on the brakes, it lowers the speed relatively quickly for a classic car.
In summary
If you really want to, you can even load two or three passengers in the back and some luggage in the boot. It is such an honest, classic and iconic shape to be enjoyed by anyone that is not only a fan of this era, but appreciate one of BMW's most important cars from the past.
The BMW 2002 is car that can be used to cruise along or to tackle a few corners enthusiastically. The fact that it's been restored and is running perfectly makes it even more alluring to enjoy. It might only have a modest 73 kW and 157 N.m, but in such a lightweight car, and on the right road, the combination offers more than the sum of all these figures and parts.
Specifications:
Model: BMW 2002
Year: 1971
Engine: 2.0-litre, four cylinder
Power: 73 kW at 5 500 rpm
Torque: 157 Nm at 3 500 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual (see article)
Weight: 940 kg
0-100 km/h: N/A
Top Speed: 171 km/h