1972 BMW 2002 Goodwood Entrant

“It drives like a racing car with 200bhp in an 800kg body – so it’s fruity,” states vendor Nick Rushton, with more than a soupcon of understatement. He’s owned the car since January 2019, when he bought it from Bicester Heritage-based specialist Pendine.

Simon Diffey and his engineer Bo Hare originally developed the car to European Group One ‘all steel, all glass’ specification as a homage to the period Alpina race cars, for Diffey and his son to race.

The bare metal shell was painted in a Warstiener livery with a Schnitzer engine sourced and rebuilt by Mass Racing, featuring a reconditioned Lester Owen head from Historic BMW specialist Laranca. JP Rave Box’s Rob Riding rebuilt the gearbox, while Phil Quaife provided a prototype limited-slip differential, which Chris Connolly of Mass Racing set up – in fact, the latter proved so successful that it can now be bought from Birds BMW.

The race car’s specification wanted for nothing and was finished to the highest of standards. Raced in several race series by the Diffeys, the car’s highlight came at the 72nd Goodwood Members Meeting when Jochen Mass took the wheel. Today, its flanks still proudly sport his name.

“I bought it as is,” says Nick. “It’s had no mods during my ownership. I can’t comment in terms of its competitiveness, as I’ve never raced it but there are lots of videos online from the Goodwood MM 2014 and a race report citing a European Group One-spec Masters’ victory at Brands Hatch in its history file.”

Having enjoyed the ‘fruity’ 2002 for several years, Nick has now decided to part ways with it; that means that this highly developed race car is now ready for a new home.

In its period Alpina racing colour scheme and Warsteiner decals, this little 2002 is both alluring and arousing (the latter in a race livery manner). The body still presents cleanly and sharply, with little fading of the paint. Like most race cars it does wear a scar or two; there are a few small cracks in the paint on one or two of the wheel-arches and a few small bubbles (and a scrape) just north of the original exhaust pipe exit on the lower rear valance. You’ll also find some very minor dents here and there, but nothing that’s par for the course with a car like this. It still packs a meaty visual punch.

It's endowed with racing paraphernalia aplenty including bonnet securing pins, a pair of SEV Marchal spotlights, towing loops and electrical cut-off switches. It currently wears Minilite-style alloy wheels (shod with semi-slick racing rubber), but the original 20 slot alloys are also provided.

Stance-wise, it’s a little nose-up thruster. We like it. A lot.

There are no niceties or nods to comfort in the cabin; it’s a pure, stripped-out race ambience. You get a pair of Cobra Monaco Pro bucket seats, TRS five-point harnesses, a full roll cage and all switches, toggles and controls easily to hand on the makeshift alloy centre column and centrally mounted control box.

Other touches include a footrest mounted in the passenger footwell and the rev counter rotated 90 degrees to sit at a jaunty (racing driver aiding) angle. All controls are marked (some with Tippex); the wiring isn’t the tidiest, but you won’t be worrying about that as you chase down an Alfa Giulia 105 through Druids Hairpin at Brands Hatch, with the engine screaming, exhaust roaring, and ‘oppo’-lock aplenty.

In conversation with vendor Nick, it became apparent that this thing is a proper little hoot to pilot. What we’re able to confirm now that it’s at our HQ, is that it’s also a serious bit of racing kit. Throttle response is sharp and it’s punchy as hell; the five-speed Getrag gearbox is robust and the uprated Brembo brakes off big stopping power (certainly compared to O/E items, be they of a road or racing variety) and the prototype LSD brings an element of uprated control the party.

It also sounds proper, too. That centrally mounted exhaust provides a fair bit of aural titillation, which for many of us is one of the main appeals of historic racing – of course, it’s also welcome on a fast road car as well.

The engine bay is clean. The carburettors are fitted with foam filters, and you’ll also find a strut brace in situ. The engine cylinder head wears a ‘Mass’ sticker, which helps to explain its ‘fruitiness’.

Other than being a touch dusty the underside looks to be in first-class health; all suspension components appear in top condition, and the metalwork and chassis both look straight and solid.

You’ll find the 2002’s V5c document in the history file, as well as a huge number of invoices and spec sheets related to the car’s build. It really is worth taking your time to click through all of photos in our Photographic Gallery below, so you can get a thorough understanding of all the work that went into the car’s development.

Build photographs are also present, as are a few race reports, the Pendine advert, and some period race reports and photographs of the original Alpine race cars. A rolling road printout also confirms the engine’s considerable output.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of the paperwork to support our claim that this race car has been both developed and maintained to the very highest of standards.

Be in no doubt that this little Beemer could be purchased, fettled, and immediately thrown back into racing. And given the lengths gone to during its original development, it’d likely be highly competitive from the off.

It remains eligible for a huge number of events including Masters’, Classic Sports Car Club’ and Legends’ iterations. Or it would also provide a superb little steed for something like the Tour Auto.

Given that Mass Racing rebuilt the engine just prior to the vendor taking ownership, and that it’s seen no racing since, it should be ready to go all in; or like Nick, you could continue to enjoy it as a seriously fast and mightily furious road car.

We think that ‘Gold Member’ will sell for somewhere between £50,000 and £70,000. That’s seriously good value for a car that’ll endow its next owner with a multitude of racing options, as well as a seriously perky (there’s that understatement again!) driving experience.

Viewing is always encouraged and this car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’