Lot 67
1965 BMW 2000
OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

1990cc, SOHC inline four-cylinder engine with Solex carburetion, 101 HP, automatic transmission, MacPherson Struts front suspension assembly, independent rear suspension with live axle, coil springs and semi-trailing pivoting wishbones, front-wheel disc brakes, rear-wheel drum brakes; wheelbase: 100.4”


Today, BMW is among the most elite automotive brands in the world. But in the early 1960s, the picture wasn’t quite that rosy. While the engine and chassis development of the vehicles they were producing were among the best in the world, the packages they were wrapped in didn’t win many awards and sales were light. With new management coming on board in the early 1960s, it was decided to give this company a shot in the arm with an all-new line of cars that would make or break BMW. Work began on a sporty compact line with Alex von Falkenhausen developing a winning engine that started at 1500cc and would grow to 2000cc. Eberhard Wolff would create a chassis layout that would not only exhibit superb handling and ride but proved itself on many European racing venues. Then there was Wilhelm Hofmeister who created a truly attractive line of sedans and coupes and would set the standard for BMW design for decades to come.

The new engine design was laid over at a 30-degree angle so as to allow for a lower, streamlined styling up front. Wolff incorporated the MacPherson Strut setup for the steering and his unique rear suspension setup provided excellent handling capabilities as well as contributing to a pleasant ride for the occupants. Production of these new bodies was Karosserie Karmann, and their typical superior workmanship, combined with the power of the new M110 series engine plus the superb handling abilities, made these a “New Class” of sporty cars and allowed BMW to make a healthy profit for the first time since the end of World War II, and even pay dividends to its investors.

Unfortunately, the early history of this car has been lost to the ages; however, it appears to have spent its early life on the European continent. As evidenced by its low miles, this BMW was used rather sparingly as the odometer today shows just under 26,750 km, which translates to around 16,620 miles. Inspection did reveal that this car has had one repaint in its original color of Polaris Silver metallic, but the rest of this handsome two-door sport coupe looks to be in an unrestored state of preservation. The deep blue leather bucket seats, complete with factory headrests, are still soft and supple, though some wear on the driver’s seat was noted. Critical instruments are placed directly in front of the driver with the speedometer and tachometer taking center-stage. The dashboard, with its vinyl wrapped top panel, is accented by its original laminated wood fascia, which has come to need a bit of attention over half a century after it was installed. One of the few updates is the tri-spoke Grant GT steering wheel. The heating and ventilation controls appear to be in order accompanied by a period Philips AM-FM radio. The original dark blue carpeting shows no signs of abuse or excessive wear. Little details such as the sun visors and the headliner look to be in very good condition with no signs of soiling, sagging, staining or other wear.

The bodywork looks to be in excellent condition and has been well cared for. Both doors open and close tightly and are aligned to factory specifications and the glass all around is clear with no issues. Inside the spacious luggage compartment, the floor is covered in the same style dark blue carpeting as found in the passenger area, with the spare tire and tools neatly stored under the panel. Factory steel wheels are wearing a recently installed set of blackwall radial tires and are adorned with original BMW full wheelcovers.

Under the hood looks much as it did when new. A new battery was in place during our inspection which included new hold-down hardware. A turn of the key and the engine comes to life easily, slipping into gear with minimal effort. The clutch is light and responsive, and acceleration is reported to be “adequate” for modern day traffic, but it is on a mountain road that the performance really excels. With its unique looks and stance, the 2000C makes a statement and this low-mile, well-preserved, genuine example is a throw back that instantly takes you to 1965.