It all started with the dual Webber carburetor and the BMW 1500.
Burkard Bovensiepen – the founder of Alpina Gmbh – initiated the company’s long and illustrious history by working on his own BMW 1500. He replaced the Solex carburetor with dual Webber carbs and the rest is history.
Initially formed as a tuner company for BMW, Alpina eventually overcame the label and transformed, in the course of 50 years, in one of the most titled and respected car manufacturers.
The German marque grew in motorsport and by 1983, due to its close relations to BMW, the brand was recognized as an automobile manufacturer by the German Federal Ministry of Transport.
Now, Alpina models can be bought and serviced through BMW’s dealerships, while the manufacturing process of the exclusive vehicles was integrated into BMW’s production lines.
Alpina offers a sports-luxury oriented alternative for high-performance Bimmers, with subtle but effective changes made to the original automobiles. Truth be told, for 50 years Alpina transforms BMWs in elegant, exclusive, exciting and beautiful pieces of art.
Alpina just adds a little “soul” to its Teutonic counterpart, marking the car a little less serious and cold. If Alfa Romeo is thought to be the Italian BMW, then Alpina surely is BMW’s Alfa Romeo.