To Be OFFERED AT AUCTIONEstimate:
$250,000 - $275,000
- One of just 450 examples delivered to the US
- Serial no. 341 of 555 total examples
- Showing less than 10,000 original miles from new
- Striking Black and Red leather with removable hardtop
- Includes original manuals, tools, first-aid kit, and hardtop
carrier
BMW's relationship with Alpina is more than mere neighborly
friendliness, even if the two companies are a mere hour's drive
apart through bucolic Bavaria. That hour may go by much quicker in
an Alpina-modified BMW, however. Alpina is recognized by stringent
German officials as a car constructor rather than a tuner, and the
fastidiousness with which its BMW-based cars are created is highly
regarded.
When it came time to remake the BMW Z8 in its distinctive style,
Alpina chose to balance luxury and performance without diluting the
roadster's retro-inspired looks. The Z8 itself, after all, was
perhaps Henrik Fisker's finest moment in Munich. The Z8 was more
than an homage to the legendary 507, the car that nearly bankrupted
BMW and yet cemented the automaker as a producer of fine
high-performance cars. With the Z8, Fisker worked with exotic
materials to craft a relatively lithe 3,500-pound roadster with the
heart of an M5.
Alpina chose not to rework Fisker's styling. The only visual cues
that separate the Alpina Roadster V8 from its Z8 sibling are its
wheels and subtle badging. Alpina discarded the 18-inch BMW wheels
in favor of 20-inch wheels that fill the car's wheel wells nearly
perfectly.
Inside, the Roadster V8 is draped in softer napa-tanned hides,
while Alpina-branded instrumentation, framed by the three-spoke
Alpina-specification steering wheel, serve as a visual reminder to
drivers before they push the ignition button. Upon doing so, the
tuned 4.8-liter V-8 based on the stock M62 4.6-liter makes its
presence known. The Alpina-massaged engine was rated at 375
horsepower and 383 foot-pounds of torque, figures that require more
explanation than face value. The Alpina was intended for high-speed
yet relaxed long-distance cruising with effortless power.
Accordingly, Alpina fitted an uprated version of the five-speed
automatic gearbox with paddle shifters that it used in its version
of the contemporary E39 M5.
The car was as much a play for Alpina as it was for BMW's North
American-market dealer network, which had heretofore not been able
to sell Alpina cars through its outlets. With the automatic
transmission and more accessible power band, the Alpina was
uniquely geared toward American drivers. As a result, the 450 of
the 555 Alpina were earmarked for American dealers. This
black-over-red example is one of them, and it is presented after
having been kept in two private collections. A recent service has
been completed in anticipation of the sale, ensuring that the
high-performance roadster is ready to be enjoyed.
In addition, the Alpina is offered with a matching hardtop and
stand, a tool kit, a first-aid kit, and an owner's manual. Rarely
do Alpina come up for sale, and even less common is one in such a
striking and dynamic color combination.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo20.