The BMW 02 Series ran from 1966 to 1977 and fundamentally shaped how BMW positioned itself as a maker of driver-focused compact saloons. The 1502 was the range's most affordable and final variant — a deliberate response to tightening emissions regulations and shifting market conditions. KK Scale's 1:18 die-cast reproduces that car in dark blue, a factory-available colour entirely in keeping with the era.
A Compact That Built a Dynasty
The BMW 02 Series two-door saloon established the template that would define the brand for decades. The 1502 variant carried BMW's M10 inline-four displacing 1499 cc, producing approximately 75 hp at 5800 rpm through a single carburettor, enough for a top speed of around 155 km/h. The bodyshell measured 4220 mm in length — compact by any standard — and the two-door saloon form was the only body style offered on the 1502. It is widely credited as the direct ancestor of the 3 Series lineage that followed from 1975.
The End of the Line — and Why That Matters
The 1502 occupies a specific place in BMW history: it was the final model produced under the 02 Series umbrella, before the E21 3 Series took over. As an entry-level model aimed at cost and emissions constraints, it never carried a factory motorsport programme — the dark blue finish here is a straightforward civilian road car livery, period-accurate for a 1970s BMW saloon. Blue featured consistently across the 02 Series colour palette throughout production, making this choice both authentic and historically grounded.
KK Scale 1:18 — Die-Cast Road Car Replica
KK Scale produces this BMW 1502 as a 1:18 scale model in die-cast metal. The brand has developed a catalogue focused on classic European road cars that are frequently overlooked by larger manufacturers — the 1502 is a case in point, a subject rarely tackled in mainstream 1:18 production. Construction follows KK Scale's closed-body format standard for this class of road car replica, with die-cast metal throughout. The dark blue exterior corresponds to a factory-available production colour for the 02 Series.
Placing It in the Collection
As the last of the 02 Series, this 1:18 die-cast model reads naturally as a bookend piece alongside earlier 02 variants such as the 2002 or the 1600-2. It also anchors the start of a BMW compact saloon narrative leading into the E21 and E30 3 Series — models well represented in 1:18 by several manufacturers. Collectors building a chronological BMW road car display will find the 1502 a historically coherent and visually distinctive addition in dark blue alongside the silver, white, and red tones more common in the segment.
