The fastest BMW in the 02 series was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1973 – the legendary 2002 Turbo. A turbocharger, the first in a European production car, added an extra 40 hp to the already powerful fuel-injected engine of the 2002 tii. The key figures were incredible for the time: 170 hp at 5’800 rpm, 240 Nm of torque and a featherweight 1’100 kg. The 2002 Turbo was fast, very fast – 211 km/h was the official figure given by BMW. Its unveiling took place shortly before the oil crisis, which was unfortunate timing for the launch of a sports car. The press saw it that way too at the time and also criticized the somewhat excessive war paint and spoilers on the first vehicles, which were unusual at the time. The brochure and press cars featured the words ‘2002 turbo’ in mirror writing on the front spoiler so that the driver being overtaken could see in their rear-view mirror who was trying to pass them. This was too much for some, especially as fuel prices skyrocketed to unprecedented levels in the autumn of 1973. The visual appearance of the 2002 Turbo even became a topic of discussion in the Bundestag – so BMW had these speed insignia removed before the premiere on the IAA podium. The lettering was never fitted to the production vehicles either – but the stickers were supplied separately with the car. By June 1975, only 1’672 examples of this milestone in automotive history had been built. Our BMW 2002 Turbo was delivered in Italy on 1 August 1974 by the BMW dealership in Udine, it was brought directly to Switzerland as a new car by Silvano Lizzi from Peseux. He had a set of contemporary Campagnolo alloy wheels fitted and registered the BMW for the first time in the canton of Neuchâtel in August 1974 with the help of the Swiss BMW importer MOTAG. In 1979, the fast saloon car changed hands to an owner in Cortaillod, who sold it in 1981 with a good 90’000 km on the clock to a garage owner in the canton of Fribourg. The latter drove the BMW for another 2’000 km or so with dealer plates before parking it in a hall over 30 years ago. In 2009, he decided to bring the Turbo back to life – he overhauled the brakes, fitted a new exhaust system and replaced the defective front spoiler. Due to time constraints, the project was put on hold in 2011, and the car disappeared back into the garage. In October 2025, the BMW was recovered and carefully put back into service – the injection nozzles were overhauled, the fluids changed, the mechanics checked and a set of new Pirelli Cinturato tires fitted. This rare BMW has now clocked up a good 92’500 km, still has its original engine and is in very original and well-maintained condition with age-appropriate patina. The last MOT was carried out in December 2025.