1966 BMW 2000 TI (01)

1966 BMW 2000 TI (01)

Image by Georg Schwalbach (GS1311)
The BMW New Class (German: Neue Klasse) was a line of compact sedans and coupes produced by German automaker BMW starting with the 1962 1500 and continuing through the last 2002s in 1977.

Powered by BMW's celebrated four-cylinder M10 engine, the New Class models featured a fully independent suspension, MacPherson struts in front, and front disc brakes. Initially a family of four-door sedans and two-door coupes, the New Class line was broadened to two-door sports sedans with the addition of the 02 Series 1600 and 2002 in 1966.

Sharing little in common with the rest of the line beyond the power train, the sporty siblings caught auto enthusiasts' attention and established BMW as an international brand. Precursors to the famed BMW 3 Series, the two-doors' success cemented the firm's future as an upper tier performance car maker.

New Class four-doors with numbers ending in "0" were replaced by the larger BMW 5 Series in 1972. The upscale 2000C and 2000CS coupes were replaced by the six-cylinder BMW E9, introduced in 1969 with the 2800CS. The 1600 two-door was discontinued in 1975, the 2002 replaced by the 320i in 1975.

The "regular" 100 hp 2000 sedan appeared a year after the 2000C. It was sold from 1966 through 1972. Intended as an upscale version of the 1800, the 2000 featured distinct wide taillights, more exterior trim, and unique rectangular headlights. The American market 2000 sedans could not have the rectangular headlights due to government regulations. A different grille with four individual round headlights, similar to the design that BMW later used in the 2500 sedan, was offered in the US.

A 2000TI model, similar to the 1800TI, was built with twin Solex side-draft carburetors with 120 hp (89 kW). However, the 2000TI retained the '1800' taillights and headlights. A more luxurious 2000tilux featured the sporty TI engine, a wood dashboard, and optional leather seats. In a 1967 test, Road & Track felt that the 2000 sedan was "the best performing 2-liter sedan in today's market and the best handling and best riding as well." The 'tilux produced 135 hp (101 kW) and 123 lb·ft (167 N·m) gross.

Finally, the 2000tii ('touring international, injected') was BMW's first fuel-injected model, featuring a higher-compression 2.0L engine and Kugelfischer brand mechanical fuel injection that later found its way into the 2002 Turbo and other models. 1,922 2000tii cars were built of this final New Class sedan model.

(Wikipedia)

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Die „Neue Klasse“ (interner Code 115, Modellvarianten 116 (1600), 118 (1800), 120 (2000 C/CS) Coupé, 121 (2000/tii)) des Autoherstellers BMW wurde auf der IAA 1961 vorgestellt. Sie war die erste Mittelklasse-Baureihe nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg und füllte die Lücke zwischen dem Rollermobil Isetta bzw. dem Kleinwagen BMW 700 und dem Oberklasse-Modell BMW 501/502.

Rückblickend formulierte „Der SPIEGEL“ 1965, BMW habe 1959 nur Autos für „Generaldirektoren und Tagelöhner“ gebaut. Die Lücke, die der insolvente Borgward-Konzern mit der verblichenen Isabella hinterlassen hatte, konnte BMW geschickt ausfüllen. Es gab damals auch die spöttische Auslegung der Abkürzung BMW: „Borgward macht weiter“. Die „Neue Klasse“ wurde bis 1972 produziert, und danach von der ersten Generation des BMW 5er, dem E12, abgelöst.

Sechs Monate nach der Präsentation des Coupés 2000 CA (Typ 121) erschien Anfang 1966 die viertürige Limousine 2000 (Typ 120) mit gegenüber dem 1800 leicht verändertem Design: Statt einfacher Rundscheinwerfer vorne hatte sie breitere, rechteckige Scheinwerfer, ebenso größere Rückleuchten. Ab Mitte 1966 gab es auch eine sportlichere Variante 2000 TI mit 120 PS, die allerdings dasselbe Design (also Rundscheinwerfer, schmale Heckleuchten) wie der 1800 TI hatte, und eine luxuriöser ausgestattete Variante 2000 TI-lux (später „tilux“) mit demselben Motor. Der tilux wurde Ende 1969 durch den 2000 tii mit dem ersten Einspritzer-Motor von BMW mit 130 PS abgelöst. Das zweite „i“ steht für die verwendete mechanische Kugelfischer-Benzineinspritzung ("injection").

(Wikipedia)

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