2760026

Here are some additional pictures of our tii.  

Wow! Nice documentation. And, with initial delivery on January 6, 1972, this was one of the first U.S. tii’s delivered in the U.S.
 

It looks well-loved! (And there are some other attractive goodies in that garage/shop!)

Thanks for adding photos.

Regards,

Steve

Thanks Steve!

I emailed the BMW group archives and received a verification of the following:

The BMW 2002 tii US VIN 2760026 was manufactured on October 20th, 1971 and delivered on November 22nd, 1971 to the BMW importer Hoffman Motors Corp. in New York City. The original colour was Malaga, paint code 021.

I see there were a few cars sold in Canada before 1/6/72 but do you know of any US cars sold before that day?  It would be really cool if this was the first tii sold!  I didn't think so given that it was #26, but it sounds like it might be possible.  

Thanks!

Mike

@tucker48 It seems a whole batch of Tii’s were born on Oct. 20th ‘71. My parents still have theirs, which they bought new from Weathford BMW in Berkeley CA in early Feb ‘72.

The BMW 2002 tii US VIN 2760007 was manufactured on October 20th, 1971 and delivered on November 8th, 1971 to Hoffman Motors. The original colour was Colorado, paint code 002.

It’s SO great to see these first batch of US Tii’s come out of the woodwork! Congrats on a beautiful Malaga one you have there!

1 hour ago, tucker48 said:

Thanks Steve!

 

I emailed the BMW group archives and received a verification of the following:

 

The BMW 2002 tii US VIN 2760026 was manufactured on October 20th, 1971 and delivered on November 22nd, 1971 to the BMW importer Hoffman Motors Corp. in New York City. The original colour was Malaga, paint code 021.

 

I see there were a few cars sold in Canada before 1/6/72 but do you know of any US cars sold before that day?  It would be really cool if this was the first tii sold!  I didn't think so given that it was #26, but it sounds like it might be possible.  

 

Thanks!

Mike

Thank you, Mike, for requesting and posting the Archives data for 2760026. I believe that a few of us, such as Tom and I, are close to using up our favors with BMW Group Archives, so we especially appreciate others requesting data from Archives!

Tom has mentioned that only a handful of tii's had been sold in the U.S. at the time his parents bought their 2760007 in February 1972. So, until we have additional evidence -- that owner's Service booklet is a perfect document for this purpose -- VIN 2760026 could conceivably be the first U.S.-spec tii sold in the U.S. Additional data from other cars will reveal whether this argument is sustainable.

Note that the "delivery date" provided by Archives is solely legal delivery of the car from BMW AG to the importer (the U.S. had a sole importer in those days while Canada, I believe, had several importers, depending on region), an event which generally preceded shipping of the vehicle. I don't believe we yet have a verified retail delivery date for any of the first 50 tii's other than yours and Tom's parents' car. But we're hoping to collect more data!

Thanks for contributing!

Steve

53 minutes ago, tucker48 said:

 

I see there were a few cars sold in Canada before 1/6/72 but do you know of any US cars sold before that day?  It would be really cool if this was the first tii sold!  I didn't think so given that it was #26, but it sounds like it might be possible.  

 

Thanks!

Mike

I know of another Malaga Tii that was ordered, and picked up new at Peter Pan BMW near San Francisco in December ‘71. I got to chat with that buyer a number of years ago, but I couldn’t get the VIN from him as he sold it only a few years later for a Porsche or something. Either way, it’s definitely one of the first 26!

2760001 and 2760002 were both born in May ‘71. 0001 was used as the press car and 0002 went to an East Coast dealer. Both cars still exist today... There’s even a pre US VIN Tii that came here then and was used in Michigan for DOT testing. And THAT car exists today as well, in a friend’s collection in Chicago. Some of the story of 0002 can be found here in the registry.

Here’s the story of 2700177:

http://www.2002tii.org/kb/168

Awesome info, thanks Tom and Steve!  I'll keep digging through what else I may be able to find.  It is amazing that 2760007 is still under original ownership, I read the stories you posted about the car and was blown away.  Truly a special car and something to be very proud of!

Next question, Mike:

Was the close-ratio (a.k.a., dogleg) 5-speed in the car when you purchased the car? If yes, do you have any idea when it was installed?

Why am I even asking this question? The close-ratio 5-speed was exceedingly rare in the U.S. It might, however, have been "available" on a factory delivery (for example, BMW's European Delivery Program) or to a friend of Max Hoffman -- or possibly a friend of a friend. While my assumption, based on odds, must be that the 5-speed was installed post-factory, it remains possible that, under the right conditions, the 5-speed could be factory installed.

If we know nothing of the 5-speed's installation in this car, I'd be tempted to crawl under the car and examine the rear transmission brackets on the inside of the drivetrain tunnel.

For a factory 5-speed installation, the factory placed the two brackets in the "5-speed locations," an additional 3.75" (roughly) aft of the 4-speed locations, and there would be no evidence whatsoever of brackets in the 4-speed locations. Some post-factory conversions from 4-speed to close-ratio 5-speed leave one (maybe even two) of the 4-speed brackets in place -- one or both may interfere with the 5-speed. If the underside has not been painted post-factory -- recall that the factory "paint" in the drivetrain tunnel is largely primer with some body-color overspray -- removal of any grease and dirt from the 4-speed bracket locations should reveal whether brackets were installed and removed. If the underside has been painted or touched up post-factory, the evidence of 4-speed brackets may be lost.

Just wondering...

Thanks and regards,

Steve

14 minutes ago, tjones02 said:

 

... I know of another Malaga Tii that was ordered, and picked up new at Peter Pan BMW near San Francisco in December ‘71. I got to chat with that buyer a number of years ago, but I couldn’t get the VIN from him as he sold it only a few years later for a Porsche or something. Either way, it’s definitely one of the first 26!...

 

Sorry, Mike, you just got bumped to number 2! ?

Easy come, easy go! ☺️

But your car is still way way up there!

Have you tried to track down the first owner, from the Service booklet? Anyone buying a tii in January 1972 understood the lay of the land!

Regards,

Steve

Mike, if your 0026 does turn out to be an original close ratio five speed car, that would be a VERY special car indeed! As far as I have been able to ascertain, all BMWs of that era that were close ratio equipped from the factory got this shift knob from the 1800 TiSA parts bin. Part number 23411666170 

The 2002 Turbos were four speeds as standard, but many were close ratios, and of those that I’ve seen, which is admittedly more than my fair share since... long story. All those I’ve seen that are original close ratio cars, have this shift knob.

If I were the custodian of your car, I’d definitely buy one of these shift knobs while they’re still available!

https://www.bmw2002faq.com/forums/topic/85749-the-rarest-shift-knob-in-the-world-of-02s/?tab=comments#comment-366725

https://www.bmw2002faq.com/forums/topic/262458-genuine-factory-5-speed-dog-leg-shift-knob/?tab=comments#comment-1414321

The dogleg was in the car when I purchased it, unfortunately I'm not if it is "original" or not.  It does not have the shift knob you referenced, it's similar but no pattern on top.  I'm going to leave it for now until I dig into this mystery further.  I'll get underneath the car tonight and see what I can find for evidence of a 4-speed mount.  I do have a receipt from 2002 that was in the glove box for rebuilding the 5-speed, and I have the original owners manual as well noting all of the service performed between 22K and 98K miles.  The same manual has "5 Spd 3.5" hand written in the "at a glance" gearbox line item, but I don't know who may have written that in or when.  

I did search online for the original owner and it looks like he has unfortunately passed away.  

Here are some pics of the service notes.  I have to think that if the dogleg was installed in this mileage range, he would have noted that.  The pen/marker used to write in the five speed comments seems to match some of the notes (particularly 34K), which is encouraging but certainly not definitive.  

Couldn't wait to check...so I crawled under there the best I could.  Sorry, I don't have a lift ?.  I tried scraping the under coating a bit about 3 inches in front of the 5-speed mount and I don't see any evidence of a bracket or any welding/cutting.  That said, it would probably be tough to see at almost 50 years and 100K miles later if it was there!  I took the best pictures I could with the space constraints so you guys could take a look too.

I’ll admit: if post-factory, it was done a long long time ago. The original brackets were, I’m fairly certain, welded on, while BMW continued to sell bolt-on versions for years. Post-factory installations can be either welded or bolt-on. Yours look welded, which is good. No obvious tell-tales such as a single 4-speed bracket. That’s also good.

I’ll let others more knowledgeable than I — like Tom! — comment, but nothing here precludes the possibility that your car had a factory close-ratio!

Your earlier note that the oil capacity of the 5-speed, handwritten in the Owner’s handbook, appears to be in the same pen as, and hence contemporaneous with, the 34K transmission oil service, written in the Service booklet, is additional data in favor of “factory 5-speed” option!

The main housing of the transmission has a casting date on the inside of the bellhousing — only visible with the transmission, or engine, removed. But that’s not likely to prove much, unless the casting date is (a.) later than October 20, 1971, or (b.) far earlier than October 20, 1971, e.g., 1968-69...
 

Right now, and until someone points out all the things I’ve missed, I’m leaning towards this car as possibly having a factory 5-speed!

Isn’t it shocking what adults will do to determine whether their car’s transmission was installed at the factory, or later...???

Regards,

Steve

The shift linkage, specifically the support arm, isn’t an original CR five speed part. I do see some spots where the mounting ears could’ve previously been, forward of where they are now. Cleaning, pressure washing, wiping down with Super Clean (with gloves on!), can shed some light on the subject. I have a feeling it wasn’t a factory ordered five speed, but would love to be proven wrong. ?

1 hour ago, tjones02 said:

The shift linkage, specifically the support arm, isn’t an original CR five speed part. I do see some spots where the mounting ears could’ve previously been, forward of where they are now. Cleaning, pressure washing, wiping down with Super Clean (with gloves on!), can shed some light on the subject. I have a feeling it wasn’t a factory ordered five speed, but would love to be proven wrong. ?

Darn! ?
 

Best regards,

Steve

I'll see if I can get any more of the under coating off, but it might take a few days.  More to come!

Thanks guys!

Mike

Presently on B.A.T.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1972-bmw-2002tii-46/

This is a very intact, original tii, certainly one of the earliest U.S. examples built, imported, and sold in the U.S. That’s real street cred!

I’m hoping the next owner will continue the respect this car has been shown during the last 48 years! Yes, I realize the nosepiece (black primer all over, generally indicative of replacement panels), hood (is that more black primer?), and front grilles (originally deep, now shallow) have been replaced and there are smatterings of rust peaking out from the ancient undercoating. But the car is largely original and very complete.

Between the two sets of front seats, I’d bet a good upholsterer could piece together a very nice pair.

Depending on how original you’d like to see the car, there are at least three levels of “original appearance” for those front seats, listed from most original to least original: (1.) early-style perforated vinyl (flat valley at the heat seams and faux stitching molded in); (2.) later-style perforated vinyl (continuous molded pattern through the heat seams); and (3.) modern replacement covers, such as GAHH and World Upholstery (check to see if WU has upgraded from 10 pleats to the original 12 pleats for the front seats). The car currently has early-style perforated vinyl on the front passenger seat and on the backrest of the front driver‘s seat (all probably original). And it has later-style perforated vinyl on the bottom cushion of the front driver’s seat and the entire rear seat. The changeover from early-style to late style was probably shortly after this car was manufactured, which is why I believe either style would look appropriate. And don’t get me wrong: GAHH and WU seats look great. But some of us crave greater originality than even a beautiful new seat cover can provide. The next caretaker of this rare early tii should understand the available options.

Below: first photo shows early-style perforated vinyl; second photo shows later-style perforated vinyl.

Regards,

Steve

I dug out an example photo of an original CR 5spd car. This shows the mounting ears and original bent shift support that clears the guibo. Someone could’ve simply replaced the shift tower support arm in your car at some point in its life. Also note the thick smooth weld on the shift tower, all original CR 5spd shift towers were 4spd ones that were cut, shortened and welded back together, thus it’s hard to determine whether one is original or done after sale. This photo happens to be of a customer’s 2002 Turbo, so the exhaust is a little different. ?

Now, get under the car with a couple of rags soaked in WD40, Super Clean (wear gloves!) or other, and let’s see if there’s evidence or not of four speed mounting ears. Remember, factory CR 5spd ‘02s never had 4spd mounting ears.

If I have some time before the auction ends, I will try to see what I can find!

Sold on B.A.T. at $25,000, July 27, 2020. We’re hoping the new owner will surface and keep us updated on the whereabouts and activities of this well-documented early tii.

Regards,

Steve

Bring a Trailer failed you, they got the sale but didn’t care how much it sold for beyond that. Not nearly enough emphasis was paid to the fact that this is an extremely early production Tii, nor that it contains a Close Ratio FIVE SPEED. Not that it’s original to the car, but it’s worth 1/3 or more of the final sale price! It was also too close on the heels of another much cleaner Tii.

The auction title should’ve read:

1972 2002tii Very Early Production

or

1972 2002tii w/ Close Ratio 5-Speed

The buyer just got an AMAZING deal on both the CR 5-spd AND an extremely early Tii to go with it, one of the very earliest US market Tii’s known in existence! AND they don’t seem to care! Quote ATX-Z8, the buyer “Thank you. Now the angst begins. I want to do right by this roundie. But I really like those ponies. Lots of ponies. Sleeper build?”

It’ll be a travesty if this car gets flares and any other body modifications. ?

Expect the CR 5-spd to soon part ways from the car, be sold off and replaced with an overdrive.