Richard’s 1971 “Manofied” BMW 2002
What is a BMW 2002 Turbo?
The BMW 2002 Turbo, introduced in 1973, was a game-changer as BMW’s first turbocharged production car. With a 2.0L M10 inline-four boosted by a turbocharger, it produced 170 horsepower—a serious number for its time. Lightweight, aggressive, and raw, it featured flared fenders, bold "Turbo" script (infamously reversed on the front bumper), and a no-nonsense driving experience. Built for performance but limited in production (just 1,672 units made), the 2002 Turbo remains a rare and revered classic, embodying the spirit of BMW’s "Ultimate Driving Machine" ethos before it was even a slogan.
What makes the BMW 2002 Turbo special?
The BMW 2002 Turbo is special because it was BMW’s first turbocharged production car and one of the first turbocharged road cars in the world, arriving at a time when forced induction was mostly reserved for race cars. Introduced in 1973, it took the already lively 2002 chassis and injected it with raw performance, thanks to a KKK turbocharger bolted onto the 2.0L M10 inline-four, boosting output to 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. That might not sound extreme today, but in the early ‘70s, it was groundbreaking—especially in a lightweight package.
What truly set the 2002 Turbo apart was its brutal, old-school turbo lag. It wasn’t just a little boost; it was an on-off switch of power that made driving it a thrilling (and sometimes tricky) experience. When the turbo spooled up, it transformed a sensible German coupe into a wild, tail-happy rocket.
Aesthetically, it had aggressive box flares, deep front and rear spoilers, and the iconic reversed "Turbo" script on the front bumper, designed to intimidate in rear-view mirrors. However, with only 1,672 units produced, the 1973 oil crisis cut its potential short, making it a rare and highly sought-after collector’s car today.
The 2002 Turbo was more than just a fast version of an already great car—it was a pioneer of turbocharging in performance cars, laying the foundation for the legendary BMW M division and influencing countless turbocharged performance cars to follow.
