Alpina. BMW’s shiny pinnacle
Today we know that Alpina is an unsurpassed tuner that brings BMW cars to perfection, producing exclusive models. At the plant, located in the city of Buchloe, the company’s specialists “work through” the entire BMW model range, producing about 600 cars a year, each of which can be safely called the shining pinnacle of BMW. But how did it all start? Keep on reading to find out.
Beginning
In the 1960s, there was a company Alpina in Bavaria that was involved in the development of typewriters. But its founder, Burkard Bovensiepen, was fonder of gasoline machines than of typewriters. He even designed a double Weber carburetor for the BMW 1500. By installing a set of double Weber carburetors with a shortened intake manifold, Bovensiepen increased the power of the car’s engine from 75 to 90 hp. Bowensiepen’s thoroughness and professionalism impressed Paul Hahnemann, head of BMW sales, so much that he recommended certifying the device, which happened in 1964, after which the carburetor was installed on all new generation BMWs. It was this carburetor on a red and blue background that became the logo of the new company.
Thus, in 1965, Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen KG was founded in Kaufbeuren. Inspired by the success of his ingenious carburetors, Bovensiepen started improving other components and parts of BMW cars in order to improve the performance of already quite high-performance ‘bimers’. And he succeeded in it. From 1963 to 1977, Alpina was engaged in car tuning. The company became an independent automaker only in 1983.
Perfection process
- Alpina modifies the cars almost by hand. This is not a tuning studio, as it releases production, yet exclusive models. Moreover, all the models are assembled taking into account the wishes of the client-customer.
- Each car is purchased on an individual order and is complemented by a gift, a bottle of expensive Chateau Lafite or Margaux wine. The wine hints at another business of Bovensiepen, namely the sale of elite wines under the Alpina brand. The wine cellar is located right on the territory of the automobile plant.
- Engine tuning is also part of the company’s services. The engine is assembled by one person, who in fact sorts it out completely and installs new advanced parts. After that, the engine undergoes a “cold trial” to extend its service life. At the end, a plate with a serial number and a personal stamp of the master is installed on the unit.
- The engine is delivered to the BMW factory and its installation takes place. The entire car is then sent back to Alpina for an interior upgrade, powertrain optimization, installation of Switch-Tronic shifters on the steering wheel and signature 20-spoke alloy wheels.
- The result is a car that looks like a production car, but actually exists in a single copy. The final assembly is carried out on BMW’s conveyors with the preservation of the factory warranty.
Famous cars
The first cars of the company were Alpina B6, Alpina C1 based on BMW 3 Series, Alpina B7 Turbo based on BMW 5 and 6 Series.
One of Alpina’s iconic models, and perhaps the most famous, is the Alpina B10 Bi-Turbo, based on the BMW 535i (E34) and introduced in 1989. With a top speed of over 290 km/h, the car was the fastest production sedan in the world.
One of the brand’s best models ever, the Alpina B12 is a grand tourer based on the BMW 850Csi (E31) with a V12 engine producing 416 hp. In addition to outstanding power, it featured a carbon fiber hood and an upgraded stainless steel exhaust system.
The BMW Z8 was initially not very successful. But Alpina’s wizards have tried to remedy the problems by turning the sports convertible into a true GT car, refusing from the hard sporty setup, softening the suspension and improving every detail. As a result, the mediocre BMW became one of the best representatives of the company and was sold under the name Alpina Roadster V8.
One day, Alpina took a BMW 750Li (E38), increased its engine volume from 5.4 liters to 6 liters and boosted it to 424 hp, significantly modernizing the car. The result is the Alpina B12 6.0, which is one of the finest, most luxurious and most exclusive sedans ever made.
