1974 BMW 2002 tii For Sale in Santa Barbara

We subscribe to the daily Bring A Trailer email newsletter, which serves primarily to foster regret (because we can’t buy all of the amazing gems BaT unearths) but is nevertheless a favorite way to start a day. This morning, we are compelled to share the lead vehicle from BaT, a 1974 BMW 2002 tii that’s for sale in Santa Barbara, California for $14,750.

The BMW 2002 is the car that put BMW on the map in the United States, thanks in part to a glowing love letter written in the form of a road test by the father of modern automotive journalism, David E. Davis, Jr. Able to seat Dad, Mom and a couple of kids, the original BMW 2002 was a revelation – light, tossable, fun. American and Japanese automakers were creating nothing like it at the time aside from the Datsun 510. And enthusiasts adored it.

The 1974 pictured above is, unfortunately, equipped with the big ugly bumpers mandated by the federal government at the time, but it is the hotter 2002 tii model. Registered in California since 1981 – note the blue plates – this car is a driver with 147,500 miles on it. And that means it might be the best kind of 2002 to buy, one that you can use every day without worrying about damage or depreciation.

This car is modified with a Getrag five-speed manual transmission, E21 Recaros, E30 mesh alloy wheels, Dynamat sound deadening materials, and a handful of other upgrades. The paint is Fjord Blue, a re-spray, and the car has a ding in hood, faded clearcoat on trunk, and minor rust near the rear window. According to BaT, the seller has performed $12,000 in mechanical and cosmetic work in the past 30,000 miles.

Potential buyers can email the seller directly from BaT. Check out the full photo gallery on Flickr, and then visit Bring A Trailer if you’re ready to write a check.

Oh, and one other thing. These images are copyright-protected by “rlobdill.”

– Christian Wardlaw