BMW 2000 C (1968)

Current house improvements force the sale of our beloved, and very rare, 1968 BMW 2000CA. SMO has been in the family since 1995, arriving in a pimped up fashion and gaudy red. Following a restoration in 1998 by specialists B&M Workshops in Maidstone she arrived home in her original Polaris Silver, with dignity also restored. Since then she has (sadly) spent most of her life in storage as we have worked overseas. Nevertheless, SMO has been maintained meticulously over the years, being MOT’d even while we were away, with further gradual improvements over the years. There have been four previous keepers (two in the last 32 years). 1998 MOT mileage 85644, 2015 MOT mileage 92904.

Spec:

BMW 2000 C Automatic

After the models in the New Class had been launched successfully, the destiny of the BMW AG embarked on a steep upward curve. The new cars were exactly what BMW buyers wanted and rapid expansion of the range of models brought increased production volumes. In 1966, BMW landed an even bigger hit with the 02 Series. The new advertising slogan "For pure driving pleasure - BMW" was tailor made for these models. In the course of eleven years of manufacture, these models were produced with engines ranging from 75 to 170 bhp and more units of this series were sold than of all the other BMW automobiles manufactured up to that point.

In parallel with the development of different models of the New Class and the 02 Series, BMW designers and design engineers were also working on creating a new BMW coupé. This used the chassis and drive train of the four-door saloons with a contemporary coupé body that was designed to complete the line of the new BMW automobiles. Lack of production capacity meant that the body had to be manufactured by Karmann in Osnabrück.

Even before production of the last BMW coupé of the 'old school' - the BMW 3200 CS - was brought to an end, the coupé variant of the New Class was launched in 1965. The style of this coupé was clearly related to the 02 Series launched a year later. The 2+2 seater had no B-column and created a low-slung effect, with the unusual trapezoid shape of the headlamps being its most striking feature. From the start, the new coupé was supplied with two different two-litre four-cylinder engines, which were also used in the saloon from 1966. The less powerful version in the BMW 2000 CA generated 100 bhp with a downdraught carburettor, while the 2000 CS had two twin-barrel carburettors and packed 120 bhp, generating a top speed of 185 km/h (own dataset). The 2000 CA was the first time that BMW had produced a car with automatic gearbox featuring drive positions that could be selected using a sporty centre lever.

The coupé with 100 bhp was also available in a more cost-effective version with a mechanical four-speed shift from spring 1967, but only 443 customers purchased this 2000 C model.

General data
Construction...............................March 1966 - February 1970
Number produce .........................3.692
Price..........................................DM 17,750
Specifications
• Engine
Motortype..........................4-cylinder in-line engine
Bore x Stroke (mm)..............89 x 80
Capacity............................1990 ccm
Performance.......................100 bhp at 5500 rpm
Top speed..........................172 km / h (107 mph)
Compression........................8.5:1
Valves...............................V-shaped, overhead, hemispherical combustion chambers, ohc
Carburetion system..............1 Solex 40 PDSIT downdraught carburettor

• Powermode
Clutch................................Single-plate dry clutch
Transmission.......................Four-speed, central gearshift or three-speed ZF automatic
Gearbox ratios.....................Manual gearbox 1:3.835 / 1:2.053 / 1:1.345 / 1:1.00
Reverse gear.......................1:4.18
Drive transmission................1:4.11

• Electric system
Generator...........................490 W
Battery..............................12 V 44 Ah
Spark plugs.........................Beru 225/14/3 or Bosch W 225 T 2 or 9 Y or N Champion Bosch W 235 P 21

• Suspension
Body/chassis.......................Unitized all-steel body
Front-wheel suspension.........McPherson suspension struts, coil springs, torsion anti-roll bar available
Rear-wheel suspension..........Semi-trailing links, coil springs, torsion anti-roll bar available
Wheel rims..........................5 1/2 JK x 14
Tyres................................175 S 14 or 175 SR (HR) 14
Front brakes.......................Disc brakes
Front brake diameter (mm).....272
Rear brakes.........................Drum brakes
Rear brake diameter (mm)......250

• Measures and weight
Length x Width x Height (mm).4530 x 1675 x 1360
Wheel base (mm).................2550
Front track (mm).................1330
Rear track (mm)..................1376
Empty weight (kg)...............1180
Permissible total weight (kg)..1580
Fuel consumption (l/100 km)..10.7

She has always been kept indoors and under a cover, driven on dry and salt free days. She has a Webasto pop-up sun-roof, and a stainless steel exhaust, wax oiled, Blaupunkt radio/cassette with electric aerial, and a comprehensive service history which has recently included:
2015 – new water pump, brake master cylinder and servo.
2014 – new headlining, battery, electric windows service.
2013 – new stainless steel exhaust (lifetime guarantee), spare tyre (Continental).

Original handbook and original BMW Service Station Europa are included. The sale also includes bits of ephemera I’ve collected over the years, original sales brochures, AA Handbook, spec card.

If you wish to drive a beautiful 1960’s head turning piece of Karmann design, engineered by BMW at Osnabruck, that is one of only a handful on the road in the UK today, then SMO is for you.

The car is in Stroud, Gloucestershire.

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