BMW - BMW 2002
The story of the "Neue Klasse" BMW range, which started with the 1500 and 1600 BMW models was eventually enlarged to 1990cc for the 2000 model, which had an interesting offshoot. 1966 saw a shorter chassis version of the 1500, a 2 door car with 85bhp with enlarged 1573cc engine which was the new BMW1602. For the following year the engine was tuned to give a more healthy 105bhp and the car became the 1600ti.
The USA was a big opportunity for sales but the 1600 engine could not pass the USA emissions tests, whereas the 2 litre engine could, so the 2 litre engined 1602 (the 2 denoting that it was a 2 door) became the BMW2002, which was available from 1968. Tuned up with higher compression and twin carburettors it was the 120bhp 2002Ti which gave brisk performance, although there was always a less sporty model in the 2002 range. 1971 saw fuel injection available and the 2002Ti was replaced by the new BMW 2002Tii , and although later a Turbo version was available, it was early days for fitting turbos to road cars which would suffer the delay or lag before delivering the power, so the turbo model was not too much of a sales success.
One final snippet, is that this robust little M10 engine, designed by Alex von Falkenhausen for the Neuer Klasse BMW range for 1961, is the same cylinder block that was used in the BMW Turbo Formula 1 engine that won the Drivers championship for Nelson Piquet in 1983! Race engine builders would source high mileage engines from scrap yards as these blocks would be stress free after all the use and heat cycles, to be remachined for another chapter . . .
Tyre size for virtually all BMW 2002's out of the showroom was specified the 165HR13, and Blockley produce the perfect 165HR13 tyre. The sportier 2002Ti, 2002Tii also used this 165HR13 as standard, while the 2002 Turbo fitted the slightly wider (but same diameter) 185/70VR13 size, the same tyre size that was fitted to the BMW 2002 Alpinas in period.
So in conclusion for the BMW 2002 and 2002 Ti the tyre sizes were originally 165R13 and later on the wider 185/70R13 size. The BMW 2002 Turbo was also fitted with this 185/70VR13 tyre size, which Blockley also produces, with the same V (149mph) speed rate. Many customers today tend to fit the 185/70VR13 size. See the full details of these superb period correct BMW 2002 tyre sizes below:
