1974 BMW 2002 Turbo Sports Saloon
Chassis no. 4291057

'The 2002 Turbo upped the game again. Engine designer Alex von Falkenhausen eschewed the option of a larger engine shoehorned into the lightweight 2002 and instead developed the successful Group Five turbocharging idea for a fast road var. By using a KKK turbo coupled to the tii Kugelfischer fuel injection he created a 170bhp engine that offered Porsche 911-beating performance: 0-60mph in seven seconds, with a top speed of 131mph.' – Octane magazine.

Produced for the 1973/74 season only, the legendary BMW 2002 Turbo was Europe's first turbocharged production car. Demands for increased power for its medium-sized saloon had prompted BMW to introduce the original 2002 in 1968, and it was the fuel-injected 2002tii that provided the basis for the model's ultimate expression - the Turbo - which was readily distinguishable by its deep front air dam, wheelarch extensions and boot-mounted spoiler. This top-of-the-range model had been introduced following a successful racing programme that saw a works entered, turbocharger equipped 2002 win the 1969 European Touring Car Championship in the hands of Dieter Quester. Faced with having to compete against the Porsche 911 (subsequently banned from touring car racing) BMW had opted for 'bolt on' horsepower courtesy of a turbocharger, the result being a hike from 210bhp to around 270 bhorsepower in race trim. The road version made do with 'only' 170bhp, which in a compact package resulted in outstanding performance; the Turbo's top speed was 130mph, making it the fastest and most exciting medium-sized sports saloon of its day. Today this rare model (only 1,672 were made, all left-hand drive) is rightly regarded as a modern classic and much sought after.

Currently Italian registered, chassis number '4291057' was delivered new in Germany, residing initially for many years in Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, and has been meticulously maintained. The recent Italian owner has passed on paperwork showing the car left Germany for Italy in 1994. With just over 75,000 miles on the clock and a very original interior, its most recent Italian owner believes it has been in two or three big collections and barely used at all. Finished in Chamonix White and described by the current private vendor as in generally very good condition, this iconic BMW is offered with Italian registration papers, an original manual, and a Certificate of Authenticity from the BMW Archive in Munich.