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Alpina B2, when the 5 Series met sportiness

Before the first M version of the BMW 5 Series was created, the Alpina B2 already marked how the brand should follow that path based on sports preparations.

Just before World War II, BMW was in a very good place. Not surprisingly, his Motorrad division was running at the top of its lungs. In fact, in 1936 the R5 was a milestone by incorporating double cradle chassis and foot clutch. All this after the advances achieved by the R12 and R17 presented during the previous year. First to have a telescopic fork. In addition, in the field of motorsport the Bavarian house had just launched the 328. One of the best sports cars of the decade. Characterized by its six cylinders in line with hemispherical combustion chambers. The perfect base to develop the competition units that, in 1940, signed an excellent Mille Miglia.

However, the arrival of the contest changed everything. Moreover, the completion of it almost ended with BMW. Limited by the prohibition to manufacture motorcycles from 1945 to 1948 and, furthermore, with one of its factories lost as it fell into the territory of the future GDR. To all this, must be added the strength of its competitor Mercedes as well as a lack of ability to develop a credible new range of cars. In fact, BMW was only able to get ahead thanks to the ISO license for the manufacture of its Isetta and, especially, the arrival of the 700. A small and brief two-cylinder that, in the end, was responsible for cleaning up the company's accounts .

At this point, the second half of the sixties presented itself as a sweet time. Yes. But not very conducive to showing off either. Not in vain, the main mission for BMW was to establish a range of models with which to offer alternatives to Mercedes. Providing a certain sporty touch to thus mark the difference with the house of the star. With all this, at the end of 1968 the 2800 CS was presented. Undoubtedly, a before and after despite not having sold more than 6.000 units. Being the necessary basis for the arrival of sports BMWs as we understand them today.

alpine b2

However, since the brand had to continue concentrating all its energies on series production, the idea of ​​competing did not appear on the horizon. Anyway, some local brewers decided to try their luck at their own risk, Alpina being the most successful of them. Founded in 1965 with a carburetion kit responsible for taking the BMW 1500 above 90CV, this shop was acting as an unofficial racing department. What's more, at the end of the sixties they had already managed to develop a 2800 CS boosted to almost 250CV. Thanks to this, BMW began to be a regular at the top of the European Touring Car Championship. In fact, in 1970 Alpina won the 24 Hours of Spa with that model.

However, despite all this, BMW seemed to continue in its thirteen. There would be no competition department although, yes, Alpina was delegated the development of a more performance version of the 2800 CS. Thus was born, in 1971, the mythical 3.0 CSL winner of the European Touring Car Championship five times. A magnificent collaboration that, in addition to reintroducing BMW to racing after twenty-six years of absence -with the exception of certain Hillclimbs with the 700-, placed Alpina in a position very similar to that enjoyed by Abarth with FIAT during the sixties.

ALPINA B2, THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPORTS SALOON

At the beginning of 1975 the E12 saloon arrived on the market. The first exponent of the successful 5 Series, this model put the Bavarian house in a good commercial position against Mercedes. In fact, its mechanics between four and six cylinders They covered a wide commercial spectrum. capable of seizing the European leadership. Even more in the seventies. When trade between the partners of the European Economic Community had already been liberalized to the misfortune of the sedans signed by the French and Italian manufacturers.

Thus, everything related to sales at dealerships, to the establishment of the brand, was fully resolved. Proof of this was what happened in 1972. WhenAt last BMW was encouraged to create its Motorsport department after the success played by the 3.0 CSL. However, the truth is that when the E12 saloon appeared, it was still somewhat flimsy. In fact, the development of the spectacular 1 M1978 was only possible thanks to the outsourcing of work at Lamborghini. In addition, in the mid-seventies the sports preparation of saloon models was hardly contemplated. Moreover, the exhibition seen at the 24 1971 Hours of Spa by the Mercedes 300 SEL 6.8 "redpig” had remained as a simple anecdote. An effective eccentricity by AMG.

With all this, in 1975 BMW had no technical or ideological possibilities for the advent of a sports saloon based on the E12. Of course, what was cooking in Alpina was very different. Not in vain, the preparer had seen potential in the M30 B28 block mounted on the 528 version. Characterized by its six cylinders in line and twelve valves, it had a displacement marked at 2.788 cubic centimeters with a compression ratio of 9:1. All this fed by a carburettor since the version with injection would not arrive until two years later.

From here, Alpina launched seriously with what would be its B2. One of the first sports sedans in history, capable of anticipating what, almost twenty years later, the Lotus Omega would interpret. And boy, maybe this was his original sin. Getting too far ahead of time. Regarding the modifications in the engine, Alpina increased the displacement to three liters. Also incorporating three carburettors to finally deliver 230CV with the possibility of doing zero to one hundred in 6,9 seconds. A spectacular difference not only to the stock 528, but also to the 535 M1979i.

BMW's official response to all that and that, despite having injection and four more years for the development of the model, it did not deliver the same figures as the Alpina B2. Which, by the way, sported a more than striking body kit. Also, it goes without saying that in the field of collectors the Alpina B2 represents a "Rare avis" full of charm. Something that raises its price above 150.000 euros. Estimated base figure for the auction of the unit you are seeing, offered in Paris for this February 1 by RM Sotheby's.

Alpina B2 photographs: RM Sotheby's

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Written by Miguel Sánchez

Through the news from La Escudería, we will travel the winding roads of Maranello listening to the roar of the Italian V12; We will travel Route66 in search of the power of the great American engines; we will get lost in the narrow English lanes tracking the elegance of their sports cars; We will speed up the braking in the curves of the Monte Carlo Rally and we will even get dusty in a garage while rescuing lost jewels.

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