At $34,750, Does This 1974 BMW 1802 Pass The Touring Test? (2024)

Today’s Nice Price or No Dice 1802 Touring is a private import as BMW never sold the three-door hatchbacks here in the U.S. Let’s see what such a rare Roundel wearer might reasonably be worth.

In contrast to the late, great boxer Muhammad Ali, who “floated like a butterfly, and stung like a bee,” the 2000 Buick Park Avenue Ultra we looked at yesterday likely floated like an oceanliner and, at $4,450, had a price that lacked any sort of sting whatsoever. Considered on a comfort-to-cash basis, you all thought that to be worth an impressive 82 percent Nice Price win.

We typically use the biblical term ‘forbidden fruit’ to describe the desirable things we are denied due to geography and government regulations. Fortunately for present-day car enthusiasts, the rules have changed over the decades, and the world is a subjectively smaller place. That means we can now legally have unofficially imported cars and trucks as long as they are of a certain age. Presently, we can also enjoy high-octane absinthe. Just don’t do them at the same time.

This 1974 BMW 1802 Touring was never imported by BMW U.S.A., the model having never been certified by the company to meet North American emissions or safety standards. That’s plainly obvious by the car’s lack of five-mile-per-hour bumpers, side marker lights, and the presence of its round tail lamp units. The U.S. also never received the 1802 model, as BMW stuck to the smaller 1600 and larger 2.0-liter for the 02 Series in the States, and offered only a two-door body style for either, entirely eschewing the 1802’s available three-door hatchback edition.

So this car is a private import, and based on the “Hessels” and Nederland BMW 02 Club stickers on the glass, it came from the Netherlands.

That bit of sleuthing is backed up by the dealer’s description, which can be found at the bottom of the ad after all the information about bad credit/no credit financing and the offer to speak Spanish if that’s your thing:

This rare collectable classic carries the chassis nr. 3410429 and has covered 84,726 original kilometers from new. It was originally imported from the Netherlands and is currently registered in California. The car is in perfect mechanical and cosmetically shape as well as completely stock aside from a Sony radio unit, Pioneer speakers and a remote control locking system. It’s powered by a M10 single overhead cam 1.8 liter inline four cylinder engine and 4 speed manual transmission, features all independent suspension and front disk brakes as well as chrome face-lift bumpers and lights from the 1974 model year.

That 84,726 kilometers works out to around 54,000 miles, and while a close-up inspection shows some wear and tear, the car appears in very decent condition overall. Yes, the Sony stereo looks out of place, and the cutting of the door cards and load area cover for aftermarket speakers is a crime, but those are fairly minor annoyances.

Other than that, the car looks to be complete and almost all original save for the stereo and an under-hood strut brace. The latter bends around the 89-horsepower 1.8-liter M10 and is the only discordant (albeit not in a bad way) element in the engine bay.

The interior, too, seems ready to rock, and the bodywork is free of any apparent boogers or signs of rust. The car also comes with current California registration and a clean title. This being dealer-offered, it’s naturally at the top of whatever pricing paradigm you might expect, and that means we now have to consider its $34,750 asking.

That’s a lot of money, but we must consider the alternative for anyone in the U.S. seeking a similar car. If not already in the States, one would have to be tracked down overseas, bought at whatever cost, and then finally imported with all the expense and paperwork involved. Or they could grab this one for $34,750.

What do you think about that latter scenario? Does it seem like a fair deal to get a bite out of some formerly forbidden fruit? Or does this Touring not offer enough enticement to claim such cash?

You decide!

Inland Empire, California, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.

H/T to Don R. for the hookup!

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