A Bavarian named Hans-Peter Berkmann bought a C1 Alpina in late 1981 and wrecked it six months later. His solution was to buy a new BMW 323 and take it to Alpina, the famed tuning house. Alpina swapped all the tuning parts over from the carcass of his original wrecked car to the new one. The result is the striking Euro-edition 1982 BMW 323i E21 C1 Alpina recently listed on eBay.
The 2.3-liter engine produces 168 horsepower.
The serial numbers on this car may identify it as a plain-Jane 323. But it was turned into an Alpina by the factory. The sporty car also acquired an extra gauge cluster, a close-ratio five-speed, mechanical fuel injection, and manual steering—all directly from Alpina.
The car came to the US and was federalized via a serviceman in 1984. It had 25,414 miles on it. From there, it bounced around the US until Dieter Stenger, a German in California, bought it with 118,350 miles in 2013. He restored the car after researching its unique history.
The car looks sharp, with correct Alpina markings and only a few scrapes and dings.
The ’82 BMW produces 168 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. It’s able to reach 62 miles per hour in 7.8 seconds and top 132 mph. That’s heady performance for the early 1980s. Only 465 C1 2.3-liter cars were made, making it one of the rarer Alpinas. It’s in excellent condition but was never restored—just cared for by a series of owners.
The Birth of Alpina
In 1962, industrialist Burkard Bovensiepen designed a special Weber carburetor for the BMW 1500. Two years later, it was certified as an Alpina product for BMW, with a factory guarantee. Alpina was formally created as a BMW tuning business for go-faster carbs and cylinder heads in 1965.
Competition was always part of the picture for Alpina-equipped cars. They had a banner year in 1970, winning the European Touring Car Championship, the German Hillclimb, and the Spa 24 Hours. But Alpina quit racing in 1988 because of rules changes and to concentrate on its burgeoning performance tuning business.
The seats are correct Recaros.
An Intact Survivor
The car offered on eBay is in “excellent survivor condition.” There are a few nicks and dings. The windshield is a replacement, but the original wheels are still in place without curb rash. The correct Recaro seats and shift knob are recent Dieter additions, as is the Blaupunkt Nashville radio.
This Alpina wood shift knob is offered on eBay for $99.
The car is now period-correct. It even has its original-type smog equipment installed. However, not everything is new: The brakes have some wear, and the Dunlop tires are four years old.
Buying an Alpina is likely to be rewarding, but most owners will want to source the original parts that inevitably go missing over the years. This car may not need much, but eBay is there when you need Alpina parts - opens in new window or tab., everything from floor mats to shift knobs. There’s also an abundant supply of parts for the BMW 323 - opens in new window or tab., the car’s underpinnings.
Alpina BMWs are legit road cars meant to be driven. So intact survivors are few. That made this example a rare opportunity to buy a serious collector performance car for a relatively modest outlay.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.