This 1968 BMW 1600-2 has spent its life in California, and had 3k miles when it was purchased by the seller’s father in 1968. It was acquired around 1980 by the seller and was driven over the next 15 years before being repainted white with M stripes and was subsequently used as a display at the seller’s BMW repair shop beginning in the 2000s. It is powered by a 1.6-liter inline-four equipped with 10.5:1 compression pistons and Stahl headers linked with a four-speed synchromesh manual transmission, and the car rides on 325is-sourced 14″ basketweave wheels with Bilstein shocks and E21 brakes. This 1600-2 is now offered with a copy of the window sticker, the owner’s manual, service records, spare parts, a car cover, and a clean California title in the seller’s name.
Finished from the factory in Bristol, the car was repainted white with tri-color M stripes in 1995. The seller notes that the right front fender was repaired in 1969, and also purchased and installed 1600-2-specific front grilles in the 1980s before they were discontinued by BMW. Some of the clear coat over the M stripes has deteriorated, there is rust behind the right rear wheel, the plastic piece inserted in the windshield gasket is discolored, and other blemishes are shown up close in the gallery.
The 14″ basketweave wheels were procured from a 1989 325is and are mounted with Capitol tires measuring 195/65. Front disc and rear drum brakes sourced from an E21 320i were added in the late 1990s along with Volvo front calipers. Bilstein shocks have been installed.
The cabin is equipped with air conditioning and its functionality was recently tested when the seller fitted new control knobs. The front bucket seats and rear bench are replacement units installed in the 1990s, and the seller recommends that the blue cloth and Skai vinyl upholstery be replaced due to tears. The cassette radio does not work. There are cracks in the replacement dash, which was sourced from a 1976 2002.
The four-spoke Hartge steering wheel frames a 120-mph speedometer, an 8k-rpm tachometer, and auxiliary gauges for fuel level and coolant temperature. The five-digit odometer has rolled over four times and shows 17k miles. The speedometer cable was replaced in 1997.
The 1.6-liter M10 inline-four was factory equipped with a Solex carburetor and was rebuilt in 1980 with 10.5:1 compression pistons. Stahl headers and a Tii distributor were also installed at that time, and a Crane Cams Fireball XR700 ignition unit is fitted in the engine bay. The seller notes that the engine was subsequently refreshed with a valve grind and replacement valve guides and rings in the 1990s, noting that limited mileage has been driven since then. The fuel pump was replaced in 2019 and a 320i-sourced radiator has also been fitted.
Power is routed to the rear wheels through a four-speed synchromesh manual transmission and a “long-neck” differential.
A copy of the window sticker lists factory equipment and a total retail price of $2,863.