By Tim Harris · January 28, 2026
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When BMW officially acquired Alpina, the reaction from enthusiasts was immediate—and emotional.
Some saw it as inevitable. Others feared the end of one of the most quietly respected marques in automotive history. Alpina has always lived in a rare space: more refined than BMW M, more discreet than AMG, and more bespoke than almost anything wearing a modern luxury badge.
So the real question wasn’t “What happens to future Alpinas?”
It was this:
What happens to the old ones?
The answer, reassuringly, is the most Alpina answer possible.
Alpina’s Story Was Never About Volume
To understand why the future of classic Alpinas matters so much, you have to understand what Alpina actually was.
Founded in 1965 by Burkard Bovensiepen, Alpina didn’t start as a tuner chasing attention. It started as an engineering-driven workshop that took BMW platforms and refined them with an obsessive focus on balance—engine tuning, suspension geometry, gearing, interiors, and long-distance comfort.
By the late 1970s and early ’80s, Alpina was no longer just modifying BMWs. It was recognized as its own manufacturer, producing serialized cars with Alpina chassis numbers, engines, and build records. An Alpina wasn’t a “BMW with parts.” It was an Alpina—legally, mechanically, and philosophically.
Cars like the E21-based Alpina B6, the B7 Turbo, and later the B10 Bi-Turbo became cult icons not because they were loud or flashy, but because they were right.
BMW Ownership Changes the Business — Not the Legacy
Under BMW ownership, Alpina’s role going forward will evolve. New Alpina models will be integrated more tightly into BMW’s global product strategy. That part is unavoidable.
But here’s the key detail that many headlines missed:
The original Alpina operation in Buchloe isn’t abandoning its past. It’s doubling down on it.
As part of the transition, Alpina’s legacy expertise is being redirected toward:
Supporting existing Alpina owners
Maintaining factory records and provenance
Restoring and preserving classic Alpina vehicles
In other words, while BMW handles the future-facing brand, Alpina remains the custodian of its history.
That distinction matters—a lot.
What “Factory Restoration” Actually Means at Alpina
There’s been some confusion online, so let’s be precise.
✅ What Alpina will do
If you own an original Alpina—a car that left Buchloe as an Alpina with a documented build number—Alpina can:
Perform full mechanical restorations
Rebuild engines to original factory specifications
Restore interiors using correct materials and finishes
Return cars to period-correct configuration
Support long-term ownership with authentic parts and expertise
This is the equivalent of Porsche Classic or Ferrari Classiche: preservation, not reinvention.
❌ What Alpina will not do
What Alpina will not do is equally important:
They will not take a standard BMW (say, an E21 320i) and convert it into a “new” Alpina B6
They will not assign Alpina chassis numbers retroactively
They will not build continuation or re-creation Alpinas
So no—you cannot ship a regular E21 BMW to Buchloe and have it come back as an official Alpina B6.
And that’s a good thing.
Why Alpina Draws a Hard Line
Alpina’s value—culturally and financially—rests on provenance.
Each original Alpina was:
Individually built
Individually documented
Individually serialized
Allowing modern conversions would dilute that history overnight. Collector confidence would collapse. The meaning of “original Alpina” would blur. Values would suffer.
Instead, Alpina has chosen the harder—but more honorable—path:
Preserve what exists. Don’t rewrite history.
That decision puts Alpina closer to brands like Porsche Classic than to modern restomod houses. And for enthusiasts who care about authenticity, that restraint is exactly the point.
Market Snapshot: E21 Alpina B6 Values Today
The E21 Alpina B6—a hallmark of early Alpina engineering—is one of the most collectible classic Alpinas.
Current open-market values (approximate, collector-focused):
Project or non-running examples: $20,000–$30,000+
Good driver condition: $35,000–$60,000+
Well-documented, original, and maintained: $70,000–$100,000+
Fully restored, exceptional provenance: $110,000–$150,000+
These prices reflect both scarcity and the rising interest among collectors who appreciate originality, authenticity, and historical significance (values can vary by region and condition).
What Alpina’s Classic Focus Might Do to Values
Now here’s where the outlook gets interesting—and optimistic.
By maintaining an active, factory-aligned support structure for classic Alpinas, the brand is effectively:
Preserving provenance
Strengthening confidence in long-term authenticity
Supporting ongoing restoration demand
Providing a deeper parts and expertise resource than ever before
These factors tend to underpin collector market strength.
Consider this:
Historical brands with ongoing factory support often see values stabilize or increase because buyers trust continuity.
Classic cars that once lacked organized restoration resources are suddenly more attractive when the original manufacturer stands behind them.
Enthusiasts who may have feared dilution of the brand are instead reassured that their cars have a future.
Over time, this can lead to:
Higher buyer confidence
More competitive bidding at auctions
Less fear of parts scarcity
Stronger long-term values
All of which point to a healthy future for classic Alpina valuations—not just as collector curiosities, but as historically legitimate, factory-supported collector cars.
The Most Alpina Outcome Possible
BMW ownership may shape the future of Alpina-branded vehicles—but Alpina itself is ensuring the past stays intact.
In a world where heritage is often mined for marketing, Alpina’s approach stands out for its discipline. No continuations. No retroactive creations. No shortcuts.
Just stewardship.
And in the end, that might be the most Alpina move of all.
— Tim Harris
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