The very first Alpina B7 Turbo produced in 1978 was put up for sale (31 photos)

At the Bring a Trailer auction, bidding is underway for a 1978 Alpina B7 Turbo coupe. They are already offering $100,375 for an older sports car. The fact is that this is not only one of the first BMW models to receive a comprehensive modification in Buchloe, but also the very first (and, as a result, the most famous) production copy of the B7 Turbo E24 with the number B7-001.





This particular example was demonstrated by the famous studio in September 1978 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Alpina later used the coupe as a promotional and show car, resulting in it becoming the subject of numerous magazine publications. The car was kept in a private collection for many years, which it left in 2022, and is now in the USA.

The two-door differed from the standard BMW 630 CSi coupe in its modernized appearance, spot modifications to the interior, as well as a modified suspension with disc brakes and different-sized 16-inch wheels.

However, the most remarkable component was considered to be the forced engine - a three-liter inline six. The engine was equipped with a new injection and a different piston group, alternative supercharging and the like. If the base engine developed about 180 horsepower, then on the B7 Turbo its power was increased, according to the technical archives of Alpina itself, to 300 hp. (on B7S - up to 330). The engine was paired with a Getrag five-speed manual transmission; the coupe accelerated to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds with a top speed of 250 km/h.

The car up for sale is by no means a “time capsule”: the coupe’s mileage is 184 thousand kilometers. However, the iconic grand tourer is in excellent condition thanks to careful use and constant care.

In the mid-1980s, the Alpina B7 Turbo received a special version designated Coupe/1. In total, only 110 of these cars were assembled, and one of them, the 58th in a row, also went under the hammer in December. They paid only $106,400 for the 1986 rarity.