Who here owns a first year 02: 66/67 1600-2 or 68 2002?

[spuriouspseudo]

I think I fit in with the criteria - I know that I have a pretty low VIN for a my68...  Car is currently badged as a 2002, wearing blue paint, but was originally manufactured as a white 1600; from BMW Group:

 

"The Vin 1560035 belongs to a BMW 1600 US which was manufactured on September 06th, 1967 and delivered on September 14th, 1967 to the BMW importer Hoffman Motors Corp. in New York City. The original colour was Chamonix, paint code 085"

 

It's had a bunch of parts and swaps done over the years, so it's a bit of a mixed bag.

 

 

[Lorin]

^ Nice ! That's a very early 1968 US 1600. 

 

What early parts are still left on the car?

[Conserv]

23 minutes ago, Lorin said:

^ Nice ! That's a very early 1968 US 1600. 

 

What early parts are still left on the car?

 

+1

 

My un-verified theory is that the 1968 model U.S.-spec 1600-2’s began with VIN 1560001. If true, yours would be the 35th ‘68 manufactured. The build date certainly supports the very early ‘68 theory.

 

I see that your car has the outside rearview mirror attached at the leading edge of the driver’s door, a 1966-67 model trait that was carried over into the earliest 1968 examples. Does your car still have a dashboard with chrome fascia?

 

Your car has a factory sunroof, not a common option on 1600-2’s!

 

Thanks and regards,

 

Steve

 

[spuriouspseudo]

2 hours ago, Lorin said:

What early parts are still left on the car?

I don't know that there is much...  Rear seats, dash and instruments all look to be original.   The engine and drive train has been updated over the years, along with front lights and grills.

 

2 hours ago, Conserv said:

Your car has a factory sunroof, not a common option on 1600-2’s!

Now, it's possible that this roof has been grafted on - I don't really have a lot of evidence to support this, but when I was installing seat belt lugs on the upper B-pillar the transition to roof looked a little suspect to me...  But it was made in the 60's.  Could be that it's a really well done transplant, or a factory install that could have been better.

 

If anyone knows how the B-pillar to roof transition should look, let me know - I'll post some pics of mine if I can.

[Conserv]

19 hours ago, spuriouspseudo said:

 

..Now, it's possible that this roof has been grafted on - I don't really have a lot of evidence to support this, but when I was installing seat belt lugs on the upper B-pillar the transition to roof looked a little suspect to me...  But it was made in the 60's.  Could be that it's a really well done transplant, or a factory install that could have been better.

 

If anyone knows how the B-pillar to roof transition should look, let me know - I'll post some pics of mine if I can.

 

I’d stop the investigation immediately and practice a new line:

 

”Yes, of course, this car has a factory sunroof. It was a rare option in 1967....” ?

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

Edited November 1, 2018 by Conserv

[Lorin]

5 hours ago, Conserv said:

 

I’d stop the investigation immediately and practice a new line:

 

”Yes, of course, this car has a factory sunroof. It was a rare option in 1967....”

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

Spoken like a gentleman. I concur.

[Slavs]

 I already posted by 67 1600.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 1, 2018 by Slavs
Repeat Post

[Flunder]

How about some pics from owners of early 1968 2002s?

Conserv does the first USA 2002 sales brochure show the chrome trimmed dash and no side markers?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[VWJake]

Slowly repairing major crash damage on my ‘68 ‘02

[Conserv]

7 hours ago, Flunder said:

 

...Conserv does the first USA 2002 sales brochure show the chrome trimmed dash and no side markers?

 

 

Well, it’s complicated!

 

The chrome-trimmed dash had to be gone — under U.S. DOT safety regulations — by January 1, 1968. Since 2002 production began in January 1968 (there might have been a few earlier prototypes), no U.S. 2002’s should have been produced with a chrome-trimmed dash. BMW switched the 1600-2’s, which had been in production since March 1966, from the chrome-trimmed dash to the non-reflective dashboard in approximately October 1967, for U.S.-spec cars only. So I’d conclude that BMW was complying with the new U.S. regulations mandating a non-reflective dash before the first 2002 was produced.

 

BMW, and some other non-U.S. auto manufacturers, received a one-year extension with respect to side markers and head restraints. U.S. cars acquired both features for their 1968 model year, but BMW didn’t have to implement head restraints or side markers until January 1, 1969.

 

So, what do the early brochures show? Well, there was probably a difference between: (A.) a brochure specifically targeted at the U.S. market, and (B.) an English-language version of a world market brochure.

 

The first brochure below, a four-page brochure for the 1600-2, is of the “A” type, targeted specifically at the U.S. market. Besides mentioning Car and Driver magazine, it reviews the car’s compliance with the new U.S. safety regulations and it shows the non-reflective dash, non-reflective instrument bezel, non-reflective steering wheel, etc. It’s dated March 1968.

 

The second brochure below, a four-page brochure for the 2002, is of the “B” type, an English-language version of a world market brochure. Although the brochure was stamped by a dealer in Van Nuys, California, the car shown is clearly a fully European-spec example: cloth-and-vinyl seats, perforated-spoke sport wheel, chrome-trimmed dash, European license plate holder and illumination, etc. The brochure is dated April 1968. So, yes, it shows a 2002 with chrome-trimmed dash, but all Euro-spec cars had chrome-trimmed dashes until the introduction of the Modell 71 in April 1971. My guess is that U.S. dealers were handing out this brochure in April 1968 because it was the only thing available, in English, for the 2002.

 

The third brochure below, an eight-page brochure for the 2002, is of the “A” type, targeted specifically at the U.S. market and quite extensive at eight pages. The cover car reveals a Michigan license plate, the seats are all vinyl (reflective of Hoffman Motor Corp’s practice), and the dash is non-reflective. I suspect this is the U.S. “introductory” brochure for the new 2002. The brochure is dated May 1968. The first deliveries of U.S. 2002’s were reported to be April or May 1968. I’d love to know specifics about these first cars and the first deliveries.

 

I hope this answers your question, mostly!

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

 

Edited November 1, 2018 by Conserv

[Flunder]

Conserv

Thanks for the very thoughtful and complete response!

[Conserv]

1 hour ago, VWJake said:

Slowly repairing major crash damage on my ‘68 ‘02

 

So this is your VIN 1661550, manufactured July 6, 1968?

 

Keep up the good work!

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

Edited November 1, 2018 by Conserv

[mccusername]

This is an ad from the April 1967 Road and Track, same month my 1600 was built. This car has the black on the front embossing.  I guess they could have been advertising model year '68 2002 but the car pictured sure seems like a 1600.

 

 

[02Les]

33 minutes ago, mccusername said:

This is an ad from the April 1967 Road and Track, same month my 1600 was built. This car has the black on the front embossing.  I guess they could have been advertising model year '68 2002 but the car pictured sure seems like a 1600.

 

 

 

That would be a 2002 due to the max speed quoted.

[mccusername]

That's what I thought but it doesn't haven't any black slats in the grill...