Why I Bought My 1968 BMW 1602 And How This Car Saved BMW In The 1960's

[@stevetaylor2842]

A true BMW lover will see the beauty. It's a gem!

[@TheKeenMechanic]

I would love to watch it being restored properly. Strip everything out, remove windows etc. It will be an investment but you have to decide yourself😎

[@earnestlewis3309]

I graduated college in 1973. A fellow co-worker had a ford Pinto which he traded for a 1975 2002 ti. That was my introduction to BMW. My vote, keep it origional. As Steve Taylor said "It's a Gem".

[@gvii]

That really was a fantastic find. I can't wait to see it all up to snuff and rolling on the road. They just aren't around. So finding in one in such good shape that hasn't been touched and completely original is just cool as heck.

[@mykline1]

They are great cards to by so nothing wrong with buying it. I think you got a good deal.

[@yonks8567]

Congrats on the buy. I have a 72 and I love it. Enjoy.

[@brianandrews7099]

I don’t know a ton about BMW history but I understand that, sometime around 1970, BMW started looking hard at their sales in the United States which were not as strong as they had hoped by that time. They decided that their products were on par with what Mercedes was offering in the US at the time but lacked recognition and position in the US auto market. They decided that their best chance for more success here was to move “up market” to match Mercedes price point so that US consumers would think of BMW in the same vein as Mercedes rather than VW or Opel. So, in one model year the price of a Bavaria nearly doubled at the US dealers with no real changes in the car to justify it. Previously, the cost of a Bavaria was closer to the price point of a high level Oldsmobile or a mid level Buick (not that they ever attempted to compete with either). It was a bold move but it slowly worked. Jackie Kennedy was an early fan of BMW and she famously drove a ‘74 3.0s around New York City for years which (in some ways) help establish BMW as an exclusive make by the mid 1980s. Your correct! People who don’t understand the 1600 just don’t get it! Without this car, there would have been no e21 or e30 3 series and BMW probably would have been dead in the USA by the 1980s (as was Peugeot and Renault). I am really looking forward to watching the 1600 come together and hope you carry on with more old BMWs like maybe an e3 sedan or, an e9 coupe!

[@roberttennyson6572]

Nathan, I loved the history. I’ve owned 4 3 series the latest an F31 which I’m not thrilled with. But the first was a 1986 328e. At the time, I was young and didn’t appreciate it. Lord how I wish I had it back let it go for $800 years ago. Keep up the channel. I love it!

[@slam44]

You should drill drainage holes on each of the front quarter panel underneath the hood. Otherwise water will build up and they will rust very very quickly.

[@timothykeith1367]

Make a full body mold of the 1602 and produce a few carbon fiber copies! I've read that BMW stylists were actually inspired by the popular cheap U.S. economy cars like the Chevy II and when the Falcon based Mustang became popular thought that maybe there was a U.S. market for a small sport coupe. Most Americans saw this class as just basic transportation until the gasoline costs increased in the mid '70s and BMW began to up the luxury content ( most Japanese cars were tinny and bare bones)

[@lp2565]

Loving your plan for the 1600. Definitely the way to go, in my opinion. Going to be some fine videos! Bring them on, Nathan!

[@tommygunnz7154]

Low build volume and condition makes this a really rare car. Basically as a car guy... It's a no brainer. Rolling around in a old rare car is a special feeling. Added bonus is just going up in value

[@lorenzobeckmann3736]

It's a great find to keep forever. Kill all mold by removing carpets and underpad, etc. New valve seats (hardened) for non-lead gas; Pains-taking rubbing-out inside the engine bay (with motor, et al removed) and maybe it doesn't need paint in the engine bay. 50 yr old car--rubber parts--body mounts, etc, etc. Electronic ignition AND no computers

[@gordsaid]

Lorenzo Beckmann A few months ago, I bought a 1974 ‘02. Just like you say, NO computers and my car has a total of 8 fuses!

[@joecraigslist9467]

I am looking forward to it.

[@adrianjimenez3614]

Beautiful car, to bad you couldn't find the cabrio model

[@waterlover]

Love the Florida green 1600 you have on your screen

[@markt9438]

Hi Nathan I have a friend that would like to know where you are squiring parts for the 1600 ? Thx so that is what it will look like when finish !

[@francispowell1811]

This will be epic!! Love it Nathan!

[@frestkd]

You can find more in Arizona and California, and when they come up for sale the seller want money.

[@mykline1]

They had 1800 4 door series before the 2 door series.

[@hmsmedia2005]

That’s a beautiful white bmw! Where do you buy the window gaskets & OEM carpets? I have a 1979 320i E21 that I’m slowly working on and haven’t been to successful finding OEM carpets or rubber mats. I wish I had a garage to store my car! Great job on the videos Nathan! 👍🏼👍🏼

[@mykline1]

Gas in Germany at the time was 3 to 4 times more expensive then in the U.S. and still is. But this series did save BMW.

[@jhendricks203]

Been there...Rebuilt my 67 1600-2 with a '71 I found in my local junkyard ..$375 so far, drove it for 320000 miles & sold it at a profit!, later bought a fixit 2000CS, drove it for 12 years 'til another BMW nut bought it. That and a nice 700 that cost me $200.00 . was a lot of fun. Prob the best handling car I ever drove.. My daughter loved it, was her size ! Now I cannot afford such luxury and drive a 30 yr old Isuzu trooper, It may be contagious....

[@professordblack]

Great find, Nathan. Word to the wise: “restore” as little as possible on this one. Resprayed/reupholstered specimens are a dime a dozen; wouldn’t be surprised if this gem retains higher value with more of its barn-find patina compared to less of it. Research that niche of the market before going in hot with the DA...it will only ever be this original once.

[@72Disco1998]

On the battery issue, sorry I couldn't find the video. I've had some very good results with batteries from AAA. There's one in my 99D2 that's 9 years old still going.

[@andyb6851]

If you do decide to go for a full restoration, I'd suggest naming the videos in series and creating a playlist with appropriate tags and thumbnails. Good restoration videos can bring a lot of views and new subscribers. And there's endless video material to make because there's so much to do. If you record a 100 videos about restoring a classic, there will be fans of that classic who will watch all of them. But I don't know how popular of a classic the 1600 is. Maybe go for a future E28 or E34 M5 restoration series if you really want to make it big on KZbin haha :)

[@hbbn7453]

I hope there will be videos soon where you do some work on you cars so that we can learn a few things :-)

[@louvendran7273]

They were rust buckets and extremely unreliable but they defined what a car should be. I remember going in a new e12 it was amazing.

[@billbaranko8907]

I don't get jealous easily however in 1974 I had a new fiat 124 Spyder and my roommate had a 2002 tii. was jealous of that

[@orlanmedina3693]

Beautiful. But hard to get parts. And also a risk to take it on the street. And having somebody messed it up

[@kim007250]

Let us talk Carbs and Distributors, setting Timing with a timing light .....Ecu's and multi sensors are boring

[@TokyoKowboy]

Thanks Nathan! Great video! Can't wait to see you working on it! You are right the E39 530i is a much better car than the E39 540i. I had a 530i crashed it. :( then got a E39 540i great power but just doesn't seem as reliable.

[@adamx12m]

My buddy restored his 74' 2002 from the ground up and was definitely worth the effort, my2002tii.com is his restoration story. Definitely a good community of 02 owners out there.

[@anthonyk]

how come you never talked about that X5 that looks like it just sits

[@waterlover]

Would you really sell it?

[@slam44]

Hey Nathan I’m a big fan of yours, however I’m not so sure this car is for you. As all of the comments you’ve read, including my own, the car you have really needs to be completely restored from the ground up. Would you like to sell it?

[@adrianjimenez3614]

He needs to keep it and make content for the channel

[@machtschnell7452]

1602 was a nice little car, but the 2002 totally eclipsed it.

[@danschumacher4308]

Had to laugh. “Why’d you buy this old ugly car?” My words to my best friend (worked at his father’s MB and BMW dealership) when he suggested I buy a 5 year old ‘71 2002, “That’s got to be one of the ugliest cars I’ve seen!” He then lent me the car for the weekend. Fun! I had 3 ‘02s. Just bought my 10th Bimmer.

[@Philippe275]

sell that stupid x5 then take that money and put it on this.

[@paulgilliland2992]

Easy 30 grand to do it correctly considering a top respray with you stripping the car and removing everything is 3-5k .I think your viewers will slowly grow tired . It's a great car but you have to think of the channel . You could easily put 200 of your own man hours into her .Decision time Nathan . I would sell it on and pocket the cash. I think you'll do well.

[@BMWDoctor]

Decision time is he’s keeping it !!! He ain’t selling this car and he knows that and he also knows why He does not need to THINK about the channel doing that is the wrong decision when doing KZbin you need to buy and do stuff that makes you happy there not the people’s channel it’s his he can do what he wants and buy what he wants There is no law or anything he to abide by stating what he must buy KZbin is about enjoyment for yourself not buying what the people want if it’s something the people want I’m sure they will go out and buy it themselves

[@lp2565]

@@BMWDoctor BINGO!