BMW · BMW 1600 · Cars
BMW 1600 Ultra-rare
As of 2025 Q4, 27 BMW 1600s remain registered in the UK — one of the rarest cars in Britain on today's roads. That's down from a peak of 28 in 2023 Q1 — only 96% of the high-water mark, a loss of about 1 cars. They're disappearing at roughly 0 a year (1.7% of what's left), a pace that would halve the survivors by around 2066 if it held — though in practice the last, most-cherished examples tend to linger far longer. In all, the BMW 1600 is rarer than 71% of the 2,408 UK car models we track, putting it firmly in 2025's endangered class.
Survivors over time
How rare is it?
Genuinely rare — only 27 left on UK roads.
Rarer than 71% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
📉 Rate of decline
Disappearing at about 0 a year (1.7% of survivors). At that pace roughly 25 would remain in 5 years, and half the current fleet is gone by around ~2066.
About the 1600
The BMW 02 Series is a range of sporty compact executive cars produced by German automaker BMW between 1966 and 1977, based on a shortened version of the New Class Sedans. The first 02 Series produced was the 1600-2 (later renamed 1602) in 1966. In 1975, the 02 Series was replaced by the E21 3 Series (except for the 1502 model, which continued until 1977).
BMW 1600 — questions & answers
How many BMW 1600 are left in the UK?
As of 2025 Q4, 27 BMW 1600 were still registered in the UK — 17 licensed and on the road, plus 10 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.
Is the BMW 1600 rare?
The BMW 1600 is genuinely rare, with only 27 left, making it rarer than 71% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
Is the BMW 1600 increasing or decreasing?
Over the last year the number of BMW 1600 on UK roads held steady. At the current rate of decline, roughly 25 would remain in 5 years.
What fuel do most BMW 1600 use?
Most BMW 1600 run on petrol — about 100% of those still registered.
When did the BMW 1600 peak?
The BMW 1600 peaked at 28 registered in 2023 Q1, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.