You’ll never guess why Bob Marley only drove BMWs

“My feet are my only carriage,” Bob Marley sings in his hit “No Woman, No Cry,” but that’s not entirely true. Because ever since he could afford it, Marley has driven a BMW. For this reason.

In the 1970s, the Trench Town neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica was a dangerous ghetto with a lot of poverty and crime. This is where reggae was born and where Bob Marley lived.

Bob Marley never locked his BMW 1602

His bright red BMW 1602 stood out in the street scene. Few residents of Trench Town owned a car in those days, let alone a new one.

Marley never locked his BMW. Everyone in the neighborhood knew him and criminals would think twice before stealing something from a music legend’s car.

That’s why Marley only drove BMWs

Marley grew up in poverty and didn’t do anything with cars. The only thing he really spent a lot of money on was Gibson and Fender guitars. He only drove a BMW because of the brand name.

“I have a BMW,” Marley once said. “But only because I think BMW stands for Bob Marley and the Wailers. Not because I need an expensive car.”

First 02 series and predecessor of the 3 series

The 1602 was the first BMW of the 02 series. It had a displacement of 1600 cm³ and two doors, hence the type name. Over the years the 1602 has fallen somewhat into obscurity, largely because the later 2002 became so famous.

The 2002 was actually BMW’s first sports sedan (along with the Neue Klasse). The model laid the groundwork for the 3 Series and made many car enthusiasts greedy, especially when the 170 hp 2002 Turbo was launched in 1973.

Bob Marley later bought a BMW 2500 E3

Later in the 1970s, Marley sold his 1602 and bought the larger BMW 2500, a precursor to the 7 Series. The luxury sedan was powered by a 2.5-liter straight-six with an output of 150 hp.