Lot 152 - 1970 BMW 1600-02 Convertible
| Lot Number | 152 |
| Registration | BHY 442H |
| Chassis Number | 1558400 |
| Engine Number | 1558400 |
| Result | Sold - £20,000 |
- One of 1,672 produced globally by Baur Karosserie of Stuttgart
- German supplied
- Ultra-rare in the UK
The BMW 02 Series is important in the history of BMW for several reasons; not least of which being that it brought the company out of near bankruptcy in the 1960s and put BMW on the map in the United States. It was the ancestral grandfather to the BMW 3 Series and was produced from 1967 until 1976. The BMW 02 Series set a new standard from small two-door saloon cars, featuring a powerful engine in a hugely attractive silhouette and offering impressive handling. The convertible was produced by Baur Karosserie of Stuttgart between 1967 and 1971, with 1,672 examples being produced in total.
Our vendor purchased this car from Germany in 2020 and has enjoyed three summers with the car since then. The 1600 convertible is an incredibly rare car in the UK, with only a small handful expected to be on the roads here, much rarer than the later 2002 Baur cabriolets which are seen more often on UK roads. The huge appeal of these early 1600’s is the full convertible roof, opposed to the later Targa style cabriolets, offering a more elegant look when the roof is down. This example is in very impressive condition overall, the interior has aged exceedingly well and is most likely the original, the paintwork has a good shine and the chromework is free from any major pitting but shows its age in some places. The odometer had been changed from kilometres to miles, the original reading was 28,823km (most likely 128,823km/80,047 miles) and the replacement odometer showed 96,747 miles, so the true reading is 16,700 miles below the odometer reading giving a current mileage of 80,369 miles. The car is supplied to auction with a V5C registration document, copy German registration document, TÜV certificate and various workshop manuals. This is an excellent example of one of the most elegant early BMW’s and is sure to be one of the rarest cars at any BMW show it attends.
Interested parties should satisfy themselves as to the description and condition of each Lot prior to the sale. Accordingly, buyers are on notice that each vehicle is offered ‘as is/as seen’ subject to the Terms and Conditions for the auction. All registration numbers, engine and chassis details are sourced from registration documents provided to Historics by the client or representative or HPI checks and buyers are to satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of these details. Buyers are advised to inspect the vehicle in person or use a professional to carry out this service. Historics will not entertain disputes over descriptions.