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The BMW 2002 a comprehensive guide to the classic sporting saloon |
The 2002 began as the brainchild of Max Hoffmann, BMW's US importer, who wanted a car to follow up the 1600-2, which had been very well received in the USA. The logical car for him to import would have been the hot 1600ti, but its engine could not be made to meet the new exhaust emissions regulations. So he suggested that BMW should substitute the 2-litre engine from its larger saloons, which would give excellent performance even in emissions controlled form.
The BMW engineers did as Hoffmann suggested, and the result took the motoring world by storm on its announcement in 1968. Not only did it provide the performance orientated model which Hoffmann wanted for the USA, but in European guise without the power sapping emissions control gear, it offered affordable high performance in a compact and agile package. So popular did the 2002 range become that it went on to sell just under 418,000 examples over the seven years of its production.
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