1973 BMW 2002 ti ALPINA TRIBUTE

This BMW 2002ti is a wonderful classic ‘restomod’, built as a striking tribute to the coveted Alpina compact saloons of the early 1970s. It is presented in superb mechanical and cosmetic condition, finished in a crowd-pleasing colour scheme. The engine is a fully rebuilt 2.0-litre four-cylinder M10, fed by twin Weber carburettors, and coupled to the five-speed dog-leg transmission from a 2002 Turbo. The odometer shows 55,955 miles.

First registered in January 1973, this is an original right-hand drive UK car that has just five previous registered keepers. In recent years, it has been the subject of an extensive restoration and transformation, to become a charming Alpina evocation. It has been owned by the seller for the last two years, who has covered around 1,000 miles in this exciting road car.

The restoration programme included replacement wings, doors, sills, boot panels, and a new boot lid. The entire front panel was also replaced, along with the bonnet. A new windscreen was fitted, and a complete set of fresh rubber seals for the doors and windows was installed. Sub-frames were stripped and powder-coated, and the headlights and tail lamps were renewed. Finally, the front spoiler, boot lid spoiler, rear bumper and wider arches from a 2002 Turbo model were fitted, accented by Alpina decals and badging.

Today, the car still presents in impressive condition, with only minor imperfections around the body. The seller notes a small blemish on the nearside rear wheel arch, a few chips under the rear bumper, and some tarnishing on the rear bumper chrome. The door jambs, bonnet and boot shuts are in superb order. The car rides on a set of 15-inch genuine Alpina wheels in a staggered setup, which are pristine.

In the cabin, the standard seats have been swapped for period-perfect Recaro LX items, including a rare ‘Blaupunkt Recaro’ from 1974. The black ribbed fabric is in good condition, and the whole interior presents with a lovely patina. The rear seats have been removed completely, and a half roll cage has been welded in. Black carpets are fitted throughout. Ahead of the driver is a four-spoke Alpina steering wheel and wooden gear knob. The ventilation fan and heater matrix have been replaced, and all of the switchgear works as it should.

The most recent scheduled maintenance was in July 2019 at 55,779 miles, carried out by specialist engineering business Webster and Lancaster. During this visit, the radiator was repaired, a new brake master cylinder and servo were installed, and the front brake calipers were stripped and rebuilt.

In September 2018, after running-in the rebuilt engine, the engine oil, gearbox oil, differential oil and coolant were all renewed. The carburettors were adjusted and balanced, and the mesh trumpet air filters were replaced.

An invoice from January 2017 details the engine restoration and upgrade carried out by AV Classics (now Silsoe Classic and Modern) in Bedfordshire. This comprised a ground-up rebuild of a 2.0-litre M10 block, with a 1mm over-bore. Ross Racing forged pistons were installed, along with a Schrick camshaft and new valves and guides. A BMW E12 cylinder head was fitted, ported and polished, and the crankshaft was re-ground.

The timing chains and guides were replaced, a high-pressure oil pump was installed, and twin Weber 40DCOE 151 carburettors were fitted. It also received a new distributor, ignition leads and spark plugs. A four-branch manifold and full stainless steel exhaust system by BMW performance specialist Ireland Engineering was supplied and fitted. AV Classics also installed a new water pump and silicone hoses, and replaced the clutch, release bearing and main seal.

Drive is transferred through a genuine BMW 2002 Turbo dog-led gearbox, which has a lightened flywheel, as well as a close-ratio kit with shorter gearing. There is also an Alpina specification limited-slip differential. New wheel bearings have been fitted, and the car rides on Bilstein B8 shock absorbers with Spax springs. The anti-roll bars have been powder-coated and have new bushes and drop links. There are also new ball joints, lower arms and track rod ends.

The front brakes are uprated discs with an Ireland Engineering four-pot caliper conversion, while the cylinders and rear drums have also been renewed. There are also replacement brake pipes and hoses throughout. The wheels are fitted with a set of Pirelli P6000 tyres in size 195/50 R15 at the front and 205/50 R15 at the rear, which are in very good condition with plenty of tread remaining.

The car’s age means it no longer needs an annual MOT, with the last test carried out on 4 October 2017 at 54,394 miles, which resulted in a first-time pass with no advisories whatsoever. Accompanying the car is a very good history file, owner’s manual and two previous concours trophies.

This BMW 2002ti is a stylish 1970s classic presented in excellent restored condition. It is a wonderful tribute to the Alpina cars of the period, and has tremendous presence on the road. The seller reports that it would be impossible to build a car to the same specification for the reserve price in this auction, so it should prove to be a great value purchase. This sporting saloon sounds wonderful and drives smartly, and is certain to delight its next owner.

The car is offered from the Horizon Classics collection, which has been assembled by a passionate enthusiast who has always bought cars that he will drive and enjoy. They are all kept in superb mechanical order, ready to take out at a moment’s notice, and represent some of the most popular modern classics.