New into old: BMW reproduces the cult car of the 1970s

Munich. The "cult car" label is a popular one and frequently
bestowed. But there's one car that really does merit this epithet: few
models embody the spirit of the early 1970s like the BMW 2002. It is
this zeitgeist phenomenon that BMW Mobile Tradition is now reproducing
with the aid of new parts. And the best thing about it is that visitors
to the BMW Museum at the Olympic Tower can follow its progress on a
daily basis thanks to the museum's "Glass Workshop". In the
beginning was a number The background situation that inspired the
project is the fact that Mobile Tradition, the heritage division of the
BMW Group, is now able to provide an estimated 90 percent of all spare
parts required for the BMW 2002. That constitutes an outstanding parts
supply record for this recent classic, which can, incidentally, be
viewed on the Internet at www.bmwmobiletradition.de. The idea of
reconstructing a BMW 2002 developed rapidly. The core of the project is
an original bodyshell from the '70s. The small number of spare parts not
available from the Mobile Tradition range are being taken from a donor
car or remanufactured by hand. With the erection of the Glass Workshop
on the premises of the BMW Museum Exhibition next to the Olympic Tower,
moreover, the perfect venue for the task has been found: for the
250,000 or so visitors who come here annually, it offers a unique
opportunity to track the car's construction live. Should the BMW 2002
tii ever have to be taken out of the Glass Workshop for specialist
work, there will be an immediate suitable replacement on the hydraulic
ramp in the shape of a BMW 3.0 CSL undergoing restoration. Scheduled to
continue until the end of the year, the project is in the expert hands
of master mechanic Arthur Heimann and the head of the BMW Group Mobile
Tradition workshop, Klaus Kutscher. Arthur Heimann will be using
several thousand Original BMW spare parts to build a new car more than
30 years old. Cult car - cult colour This new four-wheeler, model
year 1973, will be equipped with a strong heart: a 2.0-litre
four-cylinder engine generating 130 bhp is to be implanted into the BMW
2002 tii. In the era of the Beetle, a top speed of 190 km/h with
moderate consumption of 9 litres/100 km was a highly commendable
figure. A zero to 100 km/h acceleration time of 9.4 seconds drove tears
of delight to the eyes of family men and them straight to the sales
office of their nearest BMW dealer. The dream car came with a price tag
of DM 14,400. The "historical hue" of the day was reflected
in the range of paintwork colours available: verona, golf and colorado
were among the bright finishes on offer, but the hallmark shade of the
day was inka - a strong orange. And it is this colour that has been
chosen for the BMW 2002 tii currently under construction and destined
to be a true shining jewel of the 1970s. Summer celebrations with
workshop visit At 7 p.m. on 30th July, a big summer party and film night
will be held on the grounds of the BMW Museum Exhibition. It is a
chance to take a look at the progress being made on the BMW 2002 tii.
Admission is free. Arthur Heimann will be delighted to discuss the BMW
2002 with any "petrol heads", and the combination of food,
drink and music promises an entertaining summer evening. Films
featuring this year's anniversary models - the BMW 3 Series (30 years)
and the BMW GS (25 years) - round off the programme. The event is
scheduled to wind down at around 1 a.m. in the morning. The BMW Museum
Exhibition is on the Spiridon-Louis-Ring and thus right next to the
Olympic Tower. Regular opening times are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.