With roughly a month to go before the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, auctioneers are starting to promote the hot metal they'll have on sale. We already know of a few Le Mans Porsches that will be up for grabs, but today's special is slightly more obtainable.
The BMW 2002, the spiritual predecessor to the 3 Series, was most famously a two-door compact executive, but convertible models were available. The first was a convertible built by German coachbuilder Baur from 1967 to 1971. Following that, BMW introduced a Targa-style convertible, also made by Bauer.
Only 2,317 were built before BMW pulled the plug.
This 1973 BMW 2002 Targa has a fixed B-pillar, resulting in an odd pickup truck-like side profile. Below the waistline, it's 100% pure 2002, but above that center line, Bauer removed a large chunk of the 2002's roof. With the rear part of the top down, it's strangely out of proportion, but in a good way.
A similar 2002 Targa sold for just shy of $55,000 recently, roughly the same as an entry-level BMW 4 Series Convertible. You won't get any modern comforts, but at least you won't have to live with that divisive snout.
The BMW 2002 Targa is powered by one of the most charismatic four-cylinder engines ever. It's a 2.0-liter with a single carburetor, mated to a four-speed manual gearbox. The small engine produces 130 horsepower, an impressive figure for the '70s.
This example has roughly 39,000 miles on the clock. It has seen some action, though it hasn't had an impact on the interior or exterior. Both are in pristine condition, and the Mintgrun (Mint Green) exterior hue looks as good as the day it left the factory.
There has been significant demand for the 2002, especially after BMW introduced the 2002 Hommage in 2016. Unfortunately, BMW never put the concept into production, but 2002 prices are still relatively low given its historical significance.