Want a car that looks like an old 2002 but has 300hp and costs as much as an M3? Voila!
While sometimes forgotten, the 02 Series of cars is where modern BMW really begins. Launched in 1966 – and indeed celebrated in 2016 by BMW themselves with the 2002 Hommage – the car was eventually replaced by the original E21 3 Series. And we all know how important the 3 Series was and remains to BMW, despite the recent range diversification.
So the idea of a restomod ’02, as this Everytimer ETA 02 is best described as, is far from a daft idea. There’s the significance of the model to BMW’s history, plus the insatiable demand for retro themed cars at present, which can be added to rising values of the original to draw people’s attention elsewhere.
This Everytimer, as you may have guessed, is not built from an original 2002; instead it’s based on the old 1 Series Convertible, specifically a 135i. So that means more than 300hp from a turbocharged straight-six, as well as a raft of mod-cons that would have seemed like sci-fi when the 2002 was first released.
The exterior is rather more dramatically overhauled than the inside. On top of the 1 Series chassis sits a “sporty and stylishly designed” body of fibreglass. While mostly a faithful recreation, the chunkier proportions of a modern car mean the Everytimer loses some of original’s delicate styling. Certainly the ETA 02 is something different, and never underestimate the appeal to some of having something not owned by anyone else. Everytimer itself says the homage car is aimed at “individualists who want to call something special their own”.
According to BMW Blog, the price these individualists will have to pay for something special is in the region of €70,000, which is an awful lot when there are 135i drop tops on PH from just £7k. Furthermore, the argument of strengthening values for originals is rather undone by this very presentable 2002 cabrio that’s for sale at £22,000. Still, the 21st century car doesn’t look as cool as the old one, and the original is nowhere near as fast – if you must combine the two, Everytimer does now have an option!
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