The striking bright decals hit you first.
Those famous BMW Motorsport colours unashamedly sweep along this little 2002 Turbo’s flanks, as do the ’70s heaven of reverse script with fluoro red, blue and violet bands coating a glass-fibre front spoiler. Over a Chamonix white body, this is excess and fun from the dawning of turbocharged road cars.
Half a century ago, these BMW 2002 Turbos were the right car at the wrong time. In 1973, performance-car buyers were hungry for the horsepower hike offered from racing-derived turbochargers, but then the oil crisis erupted.
These baby BMWs gulped close to 20L/100km – even when not weekending at the Nürburgring – crippling the car’s relevance and appeal as fuel prices surged. Ergo, a mere 1672 units rolled off the line before upping stumps in 1974.
Fifty years later, such scarcity and Seventies Cool give this baby BMW ultimate allure. Brisbane specialist Oldtimer Australia has one of the estimated half-dozen ’02 Turbos in the country up for sale, for the not insignificant price of $259,950. Performance BMW fans could spend similar bagging an E30 M3, E39 M5 and E46 M3, but this trio of Bavarian brilliance can’t touch an old Turbo for scarcity and “what the?” at a Cars ‘n’ Coffee.
Values have gone bonkers. Recent auctions have seen Turbos go for US$181,500 (Mecum, Indy) US$140,000 (RM Sotheby’s, Miami) and €137,080 (Artcurial, Paris). Do the conversion and that Aussie price is on par, and backed by the near-mint condition of this example.
I go a bit wobbly at first sight. This Japanese-delivered Turbo must have been one of the last with its October 1974 build date. It was imported to Australia in 2007 and ultimately given a nut-and-bolt, no-expense-spared restoration in 2018/19. Parts were repaired or replaced using new-old stock from specialists in the UK, Germany and USA. It remains a left-hooker, as all Turbos were.
It can’t have looked this immaculate since it was in a Tokyo showroom and ABBA’s Mamma Mia topped the charts. That’s despite its current owner clocking up 12,000km in the last five years post-resto, and how refreshing to hear such a high-value funster has actually been enjoyed.
It’s a svelte little thing. Only 4.2m long; skinny despite its distinctive riveted-on wheel arches, and rides on tiny Mahle 13×6-inch alloys. Power-to-weight’s superb for this vintage: 127kW and just 1080kg.
It’s the right colour. The creamy white shows off the popping decals far better than silver, the only other factory hue offered. Lovely touches include an exposed metal fuel filler, off-centre exit exhaust and chunky rubber boot spoiler.
The cabin shines with a no-nonsense elegance missing in modern BMWs. This being the Turbo, there’s a redlined boost gauge angled towards the driver, and highly sporty red surround for the VDO black and white instruments.
The stubby little gear shifter has a buttery, short-throw action as I dip the clutch and move through cogs. Four-speed manuals were standard, but there was an optional five-speed dogleg, as fitted here. Good. The way a proper race-focused BMW should be, and a trait carried over into the venerable E30 M3.
Despite the full resto, it still smells deliciously Seventies inside. Black vinyl seats are firm and well-bolstered, carpets are thick and look brand new, while visibility’s outstanding. Windows and the rear screen are huge; A, B and C-pillars are barely-there, so parking should prove as fuss-free as placing the front wheel on a mountain road apex.
It’s hyper-clean under the bonnet, which reveals the low compression (8.5:1), mechanically fuel injected, SOHC M10 four-cylinder, complete with KKK turbocharger running 8psi.
It’s not a matching-numbers car, but paperwork shows the transplanted engine comes from a French-delivered genuine 2002 Turbo. Welcome additions include power steering and modern electric air-conditioning, with the cabin featuring period-correct vents close to a gorgeous Becker Mexico head-unit.
Time constraints meant we couldn’t have a ride in this high-value Turbo, but Wim Van Den Braassem from Oldtimer gave his impressions, having enjoyed numerous tests in this particular car.
“I expected it to be more like an early Porsche 930 (911) Turbo, which has ridiculous turbo lag and is so raw,” he said. “The 2002 Turbo is still raw, but in a refined way. You can drive this reasonably sedately.”
This tallies with my experience, having tested a UK-residing 2002 Turbo some 20 years ago. That was on a wet day, and while it was docile in town, it was clear this is not a car you want coming on boost in the middle of a damp corner. It’s like a tap turning on.
“It’s almost like a normal BMW 2002 until you hit 4000rpm,” Wim continued. “Then, it’s like a second engine kicks in. It just takes off, it’s a lot more powerful now, but it’s a very small rev range where that happens. You can definitely tell you’re driving a Turbo now. But it’s not a widow maker, like a 930, with the turbo engine in the back.”
The telltale boost gauge goes into the green as you reach 4000rpm, then red when the KKK’s properly spooling.
“It definitely has turbo lag, and it’s either on or off,” Wim said. “It’s a whole different experience now, but there’s still the comfort of a touring car, rather than a sports car like a 911 Turbo.”
Oldtimer’s managing director Mark Jansen also lauds the little coupe.
“It’s an absolutely iconic car in terms of the development of BMW,” he said. “It’s incredibly rare in Australia. Many Turbos will have lived hard lives with weekend boy racers driving the pants off them, so I’m sure many (from the 1672 originals) would no longer be with us.”
I suggest there’d be international interest in this LHD legend, but Mark’s very keen for it to stay on our shores.
“It’d be terrible if it left,” he said. “When cars like this leave the country, they rarely come back because of all the taxes we have to pay.”
Auction results overseas show this Aussie Turbo’s at a fair market price. The non-original (but correct) motor may put off some, but this car’s exceptional post-restored condition and Seventies charm prove utterly beguiling.
And, as a kid from this wildest of decades, show me a car from history that’s done body stickers better?
If you are interested in owning a piece of BMW history, give the team at Oldtimer Australia a call on: 0417 828 569 or email: mark.jansen@oldtimeraustralia.com.