1973-1974 BMW 2002 Turbo Cotton T-Shirt

The 1973-1974 BMW 2002 Turbo secured its place in automotive history as Europe’s first turbocharged production passenger car. Engineered to dominate high-speed Autobahn transit, it delivered unprecedented forced-induction performance that redefined what a compact three-box sports sedan could achieve.

Under the hood sits the M31 engine, a 2.0-liter SOHC inline-four based on the robust M10 block. Equipped with a KKK turbocharger and Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection, this powerplant generates 170 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 177 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, utilizing a low 6.9:1 compression ratio.

To manage the sudden onset of boost, the chassis features a reinforced unibody with MacPherson struts up front, semi-trailing arms at the rear, and thicker anti-roll bars. A four-speed manual transmission channels power through a 40-percent limited-slip differential, ensuring high-speed cornering stability.

With just 1,672 units produced during its brief run, this homologation-style special is highly prized by modern collectors. It represented the absolute pinnacle of the 02-Series lineage, succeeding the fuel-injected 2002 tii as the flagship before the entire platform was replaced by the E21 3-Series.