Amazing BMW 1602 Restomod Has Carbon Fiber Body and S14 Power
The builder of this BMW 1602 got fanatical about shaving weight and attention to detail, and the results speak for themselves.
While the 2002 gets the bulk of the attention when it comes to vintage Bimmer models, the BMW 1602 certainly deserves more, as it’s a fine-looking classic with loads of potential. Paul Lefevre – a surfboard maker who moved from his native France to California to pursue his dream/hobby/career – is certainly well aware of that, as he has built one of the coolest BMW 1602 models in existence. Gifted with a full-blown restomod treatment, this vintage coupe is also every bit as fast as one of its newer counterparts, thanks to a host of modifications, which are outlined in this video from Top Gear.
Perhaps the biggest change that has taken place on this old 1602 is its body, which is hand-crafted entirely from carbon fiber and helps the little coupe tip the scales at a mere 1,800 pounds. Lefevre also gave the classic BMW a carbon fiber dash and drilled holes in the doors and door handles in the quest to shave weight, which is somewhat offset by a host of upgrades including beefier brakes and larger wheels, as well as a brand new engine.
That powerplant is BMW’s 2.3-liter S14, which cranks out a solid 210 horsepower at the wheels. Coupled with its svelte curb weight, that alone should make this 1602 far faster than stock, as its 1969 original 1.6-liter M10 cranked out a mere 84 horsepower – not enough to light one’s hair one fire, let alone pass modern traffic on the interstate in a manner that isn’t stress-inducing.
Underneath its hand-made wide body skin, this vintage 1602 also takes a minimalist, track-focused approach with a rear seat delete, roll cage, and front bucket seats with racing harnesses. Lefevre’s commitment to shaving weight is borderline fanatical, in fact, as the car doesn’t even has a windshield wiper – because who needs one on a fair weather cruiser and track-focused build?
The result of that obsession with BMWs and craftsmanship certainly paid off here, as this 1602 is easily one of the coolest builds of any kind that we’ve come across in a long time. If nothing else, it may inspire others to jump on the bandwagon as well, but for now, this vintage BMW stands out as a truly unique creation.