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The Cars That Saved BMW’s Bacon… “Neue Klasse” – The evolution of the infamous 2002

 At the Frankfurt, Germany, auto show in September 1961, BMW displayed a prototype of a sedan it called the "New Class" or “Neue Klasse” sedan. The New Class was so good, that it would become the blueprint for virtually every production BMW over the next three decades.

The saviours were industrialists Harald and Herbert Quandt who injected fresh capital into the moribund firm and instigated development of a new mid-range four-door car, known as the Neue Klasse or ‘New Class’. That reached production as the BMW 1500 saloon in 1962, and by 1964 a quicker 1600 had replaced it and an even more powerful 1800TI had been added to the range. A 2.0-litre engine was dropped into the four-door shell in 1966, the year BMW celebrated its 50th anniversary. Between them these Neue Klasse cars saved BMW’s bacon, well over 100,000 of them being built during the 1960s.

The Secession

The first production model was the 1500 in 1962. It had the first four-cylinder automobile engine BMW had manufactured since the 30s. 24,000 units were built.

The next New Class sedan was the 1800, launched in September of 1963, with a 1773cc, 90 hp engine. Some interesting variations of the 1800 were the 1800 Ti (18,417 units) and the 1800 Ti/SA (200 units).

In 1964, a 1600 model replaced the 1500. 10,278 cars were built between 1964 and 1966. Other models included the 1600-2 and the 1600 TI.

The 2000 and 2000 TI began production in January 1966. The 1990cc engine had either 100hp with a single Solex 40 carburetor or 120hp with dual Solex carbs.

The evolution was complete with the 2002 introduced in 1968 with and rained thru 1976. BMW produced a 2002 ti (120hp) and a 2002 tii (130hp and 120mph top speed). The 2002 Turbo was unveiled at the 1973 Frankfurt auto show. Only 1672 cars were built in 1973 and 1974.

The 2002 also help put BMW on the map in North America when in 1968, several enthusiastic 2002 owners formed the BMW Car Club of America (BMW CCA). 2002 racing...