BMW M2 created by marrying 2002 with M3 drivetrain
Fri, 19 Apr 2013
Marc Norris, owner of the Bavarian Workshop in Southern California, recently built a lucky customer their very own BMW "M2" by combining the chassis of an iconic mid-1970s BMW 2002 with BMW's celebrated race-bred S14 engine from a late-1980s BMW E30 M3.
Dropping the high-revving 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood wasn't an issue, but Norris was forced to make a custom cradle for the transmission and new drive shafts so everything would fit. While the crew was in there, they boxed the chassis for additional strength and upgraded the suspension with custom coil-overs at all four corners. Wilwood brakes and Alpina wheels complete the mechanical package. The interior features Recaro buckets, stolen from an early-1980s E21 320i, and plenty of perforated Nappa leather.
Norris says the 200-horsepower screamer drives like an early M3, but the lighter platform is about a second quicker in the sprint to 60 miles per hour – figure just over five seconds.
This stunning restoration is a one-of-a-kind project, but Bavarian Workshop can build you one too. As owner Norris says with a smile, "...no problem, all it takes is money." Yeah, lots of it. Watch for yourself below.
By Michael Harley