BMW 02 Series
Giovanni Michelotti · 1968
The BMW 02 Series is a foundational compact executive car range produced from 1966 to 1977. Based on a shortened New Class sedan, it debuted as the 1600-2 in 1966 and evolved into the influential 2002 in 1968. Designed by Giovanni Michelotti, it established BMW’s sport-sedan identity through proportion, rear-wheel drive dynamics, and driver engagement—not raw power. Its variants included cabriolets, targas, hatchbacks (Touring), and economy models. It was lighter and more agile than its donor, less well-appointed but more responsive. It directly enabled BMW’s reputation for affordable performance—and shaped its design language for decades.
