ALPINA B7 Classic Cars for Sale

The Alpina B7 is a high-performance car produced in Dingolfing, Germany, together with the BMW 7 series. Its most recent incarnation featured a 600bhp 4.4-litre V8 with turbocharges and an eight-speed transmission. The Alpina B7 is a much sought after car internationally and is the current fastest four door car available in the UK, capable of reaching speeds up to 205mph.

The history of the Alpina B7

Alpina (Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH & Co. KG) is a German car manufacturer operating in Ostallgäu, Bavaria, and founded by Burkard Bovensiepen. They focus on developing and selling high-performance editions of BMW's cars. So close is their relationship that many of these cars are manufactured on the same BMW production lines before being shipped to Alpina's finishing facility. Founded in 1965, Alpina began as a producer of typewriters but soon moved into the car tuning business with BMW. Alpina utilised crankshafts and carburettors to obtain greater power from BMW's engines, with many of their cars doing well in racing competitions. Between 1968 and 1973, Alpina's cars experienced legendary competition success under the renowned drivers Niki Lauda, James Hunt and Derek Bell. Alpina models are available across the BMW range, usually differentiated by 20-spoke wheels, automatic transmission and a blue/green colouration. This ethos follows into the creation of the Alpina B7. The current Alpina B7 has been in production since 2004, although a variation of the BMW 7 series has been in production since 1978 with the Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé. The Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé utilised a turbocharged six-cylinder engine, making it the fastest Coupé of its era, and was noted for its stellar hand-stitched interior design work. Then as now, it is constructed on the BMW line and finished by hand at Alpina.

Special features of the Alpina B7

With a vast array of customisable interior options, the Alpina B7 has seen some very special incarnations over the years. Optional upgrades have included a lavish Lavalina leather stitching, piano lacquer or luxury wood finishings and an individual production plaque. Alpina's engineering capabilities are advanced, with eight dynamometers used to assess the modifications. As a result, their engines are both powerful and sophisticated with improvements to fuel economy. With modifications throughout the car's electronics, the Alpina B7 features an upgraded gearbox and improved aerodynamics.