Some of yous mightiness accept missed it, only 2018 is the 50th anniversary of the 2002 (2.0 Liter) yous could struggle this is genuinely to a greater extent than of import than the launch of the 02 (1600cc models) because it was the 2.0 liter version that caused the sensation too Pb to hundreds of thousands of sales all over the basis too ultimately Pb to BMW’s survival.
So how did the 2.0 version come upwardly to light? In 1967 BMW were already considering the possibility of giving their two-door vehicle however to a greater extent than or less other engine inward the shape of a 2-liter relative of the 1600ti’s 4 cylinders.
Not long later on the 1600-2 was announced, Alex von Falkenhausen had a 2-liter engine dropped into an example of the machine for his ain use. Completely independently, BMW’s Planning Director Helmut Werner Bonsch had precisely the same conversion carried out for his car. Neither human being knew of the other’s machine until ane twenty-four hours inward mid-1967 when both cars were inward the workshops together at BMW. Both were enthusiastic virtually their 2-liter two-doors, too betwixt them decided to set a formal proposal to the BMW Board that such a model should survive considered for production.
Their crusade was greatly helped past times developments inward the USA. BMW had never meant really much inward that marketplace earlier the mid-1960s, too the marque had been imported alone inward modest numbers. The companionship was good aware of the value of sales success inward such a large market, too until this betoken had non had a model which appealed to American customers.
In 1966, all that changed.
The novel two-door 1600-2 models received rave reviews inward the American motoring press, too suddenly sales started to assemble momentum. Wanting to capitalise on this success, importer Max Hoffman urged the Bavarians to permit him accept to a greater extent than or less other model inward the same vein, too preferably ane amongst fifty-fifty to a greater extent than performance. The alone model inward that attain was the 1600ti.
Unfortunately, the twin-carburettor engine could non survive made to run into the novel Federal exhaust emissions regulations, too and so it could non survive sold inward the skillful onetime USA of A. However, the 100hp 2-liter engine inward the 2000 coupe had been made to run into the regulations. The solution was simple, BMW Sales Director Paul Hahnemann was good aware of the USA marketplace requirement, too and so he supported the proposal for a 2-liter version of the two-door car, despite opposition the sales declaration won the twenty-four hours too the 2002 was born.
Source : bmwblog