Not in my wheelhouse but did Alpina do some e3's?
Seen today at the BMW of Monterey event:
Seen today at the BMW of Monterey event:
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E3 Alpina?
- Thread starter Bmachine
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dbower
Well-Known Member
There's a real one in the current Alpina exhibit at the BMWCCA Foundation museum, along with an Alpina E9: https://theultimatedrivingmuseum.org/exhibits/alpina/e3-alpina-3-0-s-danny-minkin/
That's awesome, would love to see pics of the engine bay and interior.
when i go back to see it, i will try to reach over the rope and take a few of the interior - doubtful that we can get the hood open. perhaps @eastsideM3 would be willing to post a few interior / engine bay pics of his beautiful car
CSBM5
Well-Known Member
Yeah, Danny's car currently at the CCA Foundation museum is the only one I've ever seen. He started a thread in the Alpina section of the M5board back in 2009 when he found it. That beautiful black car looks stunning, but it's doubtful there are many (any?) Alpina parts on it... It's a USA delivered car and is a quasi-tribute thing I guess? The Ground Control coilovers look nice and of course the wheels are not even close to period correct, Alpina used a nice airbox on triple weber setups not open element filters, etc.
Danny's Fjord E3 is, in my eyes, the most beautiful E3(here comes the heresy from a former owner of three running and two parts car coupes) and E9 I have ever seen. Period.
At first glance I thought the black E3 "Alpina" was a 5 Series.
At first glance I thought the black E3 "Alpina" was a 5 Series.
The black e3 was at Legends. Owner bought it two years ago and added all of the Alpina bits.
Hi all,
Alpina never marketed a modified E3.
At the time of the E3 (68-77), Alpina only prepared cars for racing (02 + 30.CSL). It was only in 1977 that Alpina resumed preparing passenger cars based on the E21, E12, and E24.
The E3 pictured here is simply a black custom model, possibly with a 3L Alpina engine, but more likely a copy with many modern parts.
Alpina from that era were not black and retained their chrome trim.
In short, this E3 may be beautiful to some, but it is not a genuine numbered Alpina!
Regards,
Dominique, BMW Club de France
@BMW45 - while you are correct that Alpina never marketed a 'modified E3', they have acknowledged that they have modified some 3.0 csi and e3 cars post purchase - cars that were sent back to them for modifications of B2-s or B3 ... some as late as 10 years after initial purchase. those were largely fully modified cars - suspension, engine, seats, etc. we know that the B2 engine was largely sold thru Alpina dealers as a kit of parts - but some were installed by Alpina. as you have mentioned the e12 and e24 had different Alpina solutions, early cars had the b2 engine and i believe there were some b2-s / b3 engines in these cars, the e28 based 6 series as well as the e28 had the b7 turbo and a few other pkgs.
Alpina did produce some 3.0 csi / CSL road cars - as early as the carb CSL. the golf car on the right is an Alpina car ... sorry Pete, couldn't find the full pic of the car and its not a good pic of you ... but you did prove that unlike most of us, you can walk + talk at the same time.
Alpina did produce some 3.0 csi / CSL road cars - as early as the carb CSL. the golf car on the right is an Alpina car ... sorry Pete, couldn't find the full pic of the car and its not a good pic of you ... but you did prove that unlike most of us, you can walk + talk at the same time.
RSPorsche, "Alpina did produce some 3.0 csi / CSL road cars - as early as the carb CSL. the golf car on the right is an Alpina car ... sorry Pete, couldn't find the full pic of the car and its not a good pic of you ... but you did prove that unlike most of us, you can walk + talk at the same time."
And chew gum and be a great guy, all at the same time.
Pete, tell us more about the aeroplane hanging above those CSLs.
And chew gum and be a great guy, all at the same time.
Pete, tell us more about the aeroplane hanging above those CSLs.
You're right rsporsche, but I remain convinced that this black E3 is not a genuine Alpina, or at least not anymore, as there are too many subsequent modifications that were not part of Alpina's solutions at the time.
And normally it should have an Alpina number. We should be able to talk to the owner.
In any case, it's a beautiful execution, even if I personally prefer the look of the blue Fjord 30S Alpina in the photo above.
Best regards,
Dominique (from France)
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CSBM5
Well-Known Member
There's no question that the black car in not a genuine Alpina car in any possible way. I lived through that era with my E3 and thrived off of first Miller and Norburn in the 70s and then Korman Autoworks circa 1980. I actually did have one Alpina part on my Bavaria - rear subframe hard rubber bushings which were rare and hard to come by for the six cylinder cars, but M&N had a few in stock in the early 1980s. 
They actually helped a bit as the car already had Korman/ST springs, 28/22mm sway bars, 16" Rial wheels, etc by then.
It is nice to see black out trim done professionally though as on the subject car. I blacked out my Bavaria's chrome trim in 1980 with masking, sanding, priming, satin black multiple coats, etc. It looked amazing for the time period, and I never saw another like it for many years. Insert Summit Point track picture from 1985:
They actually helped a bit as the car already had Korman/ST springs, 28/22mm sway bars, 16" Rial wheels, etc by then.It is nice to see black out trim done professionally though as on the subject car. I blacked out my Bavaria's chrome trim in 1980 with masking, sanding, priming, satin black multiple coats, etc. It looked amazing for the time period, and I never saw another like it for many years. Insert Summit Point track picture from 1985:
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i agree that the black e3 is not a genuine Alpina ... i was mainly referring to @eastsideM3 's fjord e3 above. that is a beautiful car.
rblongboarder
Well-Known Member
chope97
Well-Known Member
Back in the 80's or 90's I purchased some used Weber 32/36 carbs from Chuck(CSBM5) for my first Bavaria which back in that time was our family c. At that time no one thought of it as a classic car. In 2004 I had it towed to the junk yard, it still ran but had a little rust. My neighbor kept complaining about the car in our yard under the car cover to the county. It was a 73 Polaris 4 speed with sunroof and blue interior. I did pull everything off of it I could including hood, head, doors, fenders 3 core radiator, electronic ignition, ETC.. It all went on my later Bavaria project car a 71 with a 5 speed and a 3.3 engine. Someone gave it to me in 2004 it was totalled, but I was able to get it back on the road as a driver still have it.
CSBM5
Well-Known Member
The car was Atlantic Blue.
I've got tons of them, still shots, action shots at Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio, Lime Rock, Summit Point, various autocrosses, etc. I even did an aerodynamic study of the car in the early 80s (trying to reduce its barn door like drag), so I have in motion pictures of surface airflow (using yarn tuffs). I also have pictures of it near new as my Dad purchased it new in 1972, and I bought it from him in 1980. I should make a new thread and upload a lot of these...one of many things I need to get to. In the meantime, here's a side-by-side autocross from ~1986 taken with an early Canon 8mm camcorder:
CSBM5
Well-Known Member
Wow, small world!! I recall selling those in 1986 or 87. We moved away from NVa in early 1988.
I posted earlier that the current owner added all of the Alpina bits in the last two years.
chope97
Well-Known Member
I was involved with the BMW CCA NCC (I still am sometimes). Funny story when I drive one of my Bavarias I have had people say, "I have heard of this car but have never seen one in real life", or I had no idea there was one of these cars in the state of Maryland. i had one young lady pull up next to me and asked if that is an e10? No it's an E3! and she went wow.