Alpina has been building some of the finest BMW-based models on the planet for many decades now. Some of them are so good that they are actually better than the BMW on which they are based and of all the vehicles that Alpina has built, the B12 5.0 is one of the most memorable.
The B12 name was first used by Alpina on a 7-Series-based model launched in 1988 and was again used in 2020 for the B12 5.0, based around the two-door E31-generation 8-Series. Only 97 examples were ever produced and one of them is up for sale through ART of CARS in Switzerland with an asking price of 119,900 CHF ($131,636).
In making the ultimate version of the 850i, Alpina worked its magic on the car’s 5.0-liter naturally-aspirated V12 with it now delivering 350 hp at 3,500 rpm and 347 lb-ft (470 Nm) of torque at 4,000 rpm. These gains were achieved thanks to higher compression Mahle pistons, enlarged intake valves, modified cylinder heads, a new exhaust system, and an ECU sourced from Bosch. Mated as standard to this upgraded engine is a 4-speed ZF automatic transmission driving the rear wheels.
Alpina made various other changes to the 8-Series. These included the fitment of new springs and Bilstein shocks as well as the fitment of 17-inch multi-spoke wheels. The car also uses a bespoke front splitter and this example is finished in a glorious shade of dark blue accented by gold pinstriping running along both sides.
Read: Elderly Alpina B3 Touring Driver Somehow Gets Stuck On Austrian Hiking Trail
In its heyday, the car could run to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.8 seconds and accelerate through to a 174 mph (280 km/h) top speed.
This particular B12 5.0 appears to have been well-maintained throughout the years. In addition to the exterior looking fabulous, the interior also looks very nice, excluding the obvious creases and wrinkles on the leather seats. The car has been driven 154,000 km (95,691 miles).
