Mission Accomplished - The BMW 2002 tii Classic Celebrates 40th Birthday, and Resurrection

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   "The plan was to bring the BMW 2002 tii back to life using available spare parts, on the basis that Mobile Tradition - the BMW Group's heritage division - is today still able to provide some 90 per cent of all components for the BMW 02."

   
   

   

   
   

   Mission Accomplished!

   
   

   Dating from 2006, I realize that this may be old news to many of you out there.  But six years is a long time, and this may serve as a note of encouragement to all Vintage BMW owners.... that BMWstill  loves you and cares about you.

   
   

   So much for the warm fuzzies.

   
   

   Seriously, this was a cool project... to reconstruct an iconic BMW 2002 using only parts scrounged  from spare parts bins.  OK, granted, BMW has some huge parts bins, no doubt.  But the point is well taken:  BMW recognizes the value of history and tradition, and it makes good business sense to spend some time catering to the collector and hobby car industry.  That is good news for all of us!

   
   

   I also found it to be personally encouraging when I came across this ad not that long ago:

   
   

   

   
   

   The BMW Classic Center features a BMW E30 Baur in its ad campaign!  Another indication that BMW is making a committment to Vintage enthusiasts.  This has been borne out recently, btw, as a number of Baurspotting readers have reported that have been able to obtain previously hard-to-find parts through their local dealer, of all people!  And they save on shipping from Germany!

   
   

   But I digress.

   
   

   Here is the article you are looking for.... the 2002tii assembled with bits scavenged from the parts bin!

   

   
   

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      March 30, 2006
      
      Munich, Germany - The BMW 02 models are cult cars that uniquely embody the spirit of the 1960s and '70s. The aim was to revive this exciting era by reconstructing the 2002 tii model out of individual components. Motoring nostalgics can experience the legendary "young classic" close up from 06 - 09 April at the world's biggest historic vehicle show, Techno Classica in Essen.
      
      Old into new
      
      The idea was hatched last year. The plan was to bring the BMW 2002 tii back to life using available spare parts, on the basis that Mobile Tradition - the BMW Group's heritage division - is today still able to provide some 90 per cent of all components for the BMW 02. It seemed a logical step, then, to reconstruct this ever-youthful recent classic. Master mechanic Arthur Herrmann and Klaus Kutscher, head of the BMW Mobile Tradition workshop, set to work on an original bodyshell from the 1970s. In a "Glass Workshop" specially constructed for the purpose on the site of the BMW Museum Exhibition next to the Olympic Tower, the car was gradually put together piece by piece - to the delight of thousands of visitors monitoring its progress live since May 2005. Eleven months and some 4,000 spare parts later the new BMW 2002 tii, model year 2006, goes on display at Essen's Techno Classica, the world's largest specialist fair for classic models.
      
      The crazy seventies
      
      Inka, a glowing shade of orange, is one of the typical colours favoured during the "crazy seventies". In keeping with that era, the new BMW 2002 tii shines brightly in this flower-power hue guaranteed to get the pulses of car aficionados racing.
      
      The heartbeat of the newly revived dream car is provided by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 130 bhp, as in the original model built back in 1973. That's enough power to take the 1,030-kilogram car from standstill to 100 km/h in 9.4 seconds. Even the top speed of 190 km/h reached 30 years ago on roads dominated by the VW Beetle was a creditable figure - and still makes for a superlative driving experience today. Sipping an average 9 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres, this four-wheeled gem came with a price tag of DM 14,400 attached.
      
      Oldster made up of new parts appears at Techno Classica
      
      From 6 April 2006, interested car fans have the opportunity to take a closer look at this old model made up of new parts. Once again BMW Group Mobile Tradition will be welcoming visitors in Hall 12 of the Techno Classica automotive show, where the 2002 tii will be on display - not behind glass this time.
      
      The successful project has spawned more of the same, ensuring that the Glass Workshop does not remain empty. Visitors to the BMW Museum Exhibition at the Olympic Tower will be able to observe another "new-but-old cult car" taking shape on the hydraulic platform - this time it's a BMW 528 (E12).
      
      BMW Press

        http://www.germancarforum.com/community/threads/resurrection-of-bmw-02-series.3541/
      
      

      

      
      

      Thanks to a tip from Mike in 02FAQ..... this is from Roundel January 2007:

      
      

      

      
      

      

      
      

      

      Great article!  Thanks, Mike!