Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Buy, sell or trade whole vehicles.
Post Reply
jbyang413
Posts: 105
Joined: Jul 22, 2015 3:34 PM
Location: Twin Cities

Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by jbyang413 »

This one deserves it's own topic. What a beauty..
1981 BMW Alpina E12 B7 - $54000 (Seattle)
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/6106277432.html
Image
Image
Image
Image
Alpina E12 B7 #209
If you're looking at this ad, you know what it is. Yes, this is the real deal.
Imported from Belgium in the 90's.
142,871 original kilometers (88,756 miles) All gauges metric.
Very good to excellent condition inside and out.

I believe it was repainted sometime in the 90's, but it's hard to tell. If it was repainted it was just the exterior, with all windows out.
Sapphire blue metallic (paint and clear coat is in excellent condition)
Bold Alpina period correct blue graphics installed now (vinyl applied over clear coat) Can easily be removed if you so wish.
Body is excellent, with no noticeable dents or scratches.
No rust. I seriously doubt it has ever been driven in the rain, or spent a night out in the elements.
All chrome and polished aluminum is in very good condition.
Original BMW glass in all windows.
Original Scheel front seats (fronts have been recovered using original Alpina fabric)
Rear seats in excelent condition.
Carpet, door panels and headliner in very good original condition.
Factory Bilstein struts and shocks, with Alpina springs.
Larger front brakes.
Factory oil cooler for limited slip diff. Pump driven off the rear axle (no belt installed at present)
Original Pierburg fuel injection system in perfect working order.
Adjustable boost knob.
UUC short shift kit.
Factory aux fuel tank in trunk.
Full tool kit.
Newer tires on Original 16" staggered Alpina open face wheels.
Non sunroof car
No AC installed from the factory.

Many more photos on request.
I believe there are only two, maybe three E12 B7 in North America.
This car was registered in California at one time, but I cannot guarantee that it can be registered there now. Clear Nevada title.
Car is presently located in Reno Nevada, but I'm from Seattle, and I thought I'd list it here to try to avoid all the "can it be registered in California?" questions. Nevada isn't exactly a hot bed for vintage BMW collecting.
I'd really just like it to go to a good home, and stay in this country.
If it doesn't sell here on CL in a reasonable time, I'll go the usual consignment route.
Awesome car.
zentropy
Posts: 110
Joined: Feb 27, 2017 12:42 PM
Location: Columbus, OH

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by zentropy »

It's an awesome car for being an Alpina, but the stripes inside and out kill it for me. I truly believe beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I certainly wouldn't alter an original in good condition, but I'd never intentionally restore a car to look like that. Moreover, if someone is going to the trouble, they could at least align the rear stripes. It's a desirable and rare BMW and as such I hate to rag on it, but I'd much prefer that "ordinary" orange E12 that passed through here a few weeks ago. Maybe for the garage art collector?
ovide
Posts: 1512
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Netherlands, Europe
Contact:

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by ovide »

zentropy wrote: It's a desirable and rare BMW and as such I hate to rag on it, but I'd much prefer that "ordinary" orange E12 that passed through here a few weeks ago. Maybe for the garage art collector?
it's not...it's an Alpina
The striping and interior is not everyone's taste, but it still is how it was designed by Alpina.......
Adam W in MN
Posts: 5052
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Don't waste my motherf***in' time!
Contact:

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by Adam W in MN »

This is Frank Haas's old car. He didn't have the stripes on it when he owned it.

I've heard the car had some body repair done in its earlier California life.
cek
Posts: 9206
Joined: Mar 18, 2013 6:25 PM
Location: Durango
Contact:

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by cek »

Lovely.
zentropy
Posts: 110
Joined: Feb 27, 2017 12:42 PM
Location: Columbus, OH

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by zentropy »

ovide wrote:
zentropy wrote: It's a desirable and rare BMW and as such I hate to rag on it, but I'd much prefer that "ordinary" orange E12 that passed through here a few weeks ago. Maybe for the garage art collector?
it's not...it's an Alpina
The striping and interior is not everyone's taste, but it still is how it was designed by Alpina.......
I realize that's how it was designed and as such it would only hurt the car's value to change it. I was only commenting that aesthetically I didn't find it particularly appealing. But I believe Alpina wasn't recognized as a "manufacturer" until the early 80s. I'm pretty sure the E12-based B7s were registered as BMWs, not Alpinas.
Adam W in MN
Posts: 5052
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Don't waste my motherf***in' time!
Contact:

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by Adam W in MN »

What the hell does that have to do with anything? Does that make it less of an Alpina?

What's your take on this car I wonder?

Image
wkohler
Posts: 50921
Joined: Oct 05, 2006 11:04 PM
Location: Phönix, Arizona, USA
Contact:

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by wkohler »

This E12 looked 10000x better with the stripes Frank had on it. Ive got pictures but I'm really lazy.
zentropy
Posts: 110
Joined: Feb 27, 2017 12:42 PM
Location: Columbus, OH

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by zentropy »

Adam W in MN wrote:What the hell does that have to do with anything? Does that make it less of an Alpina?

What's your take on this car I wonder?

Image
My comment was only a response to your implication that I shouldn't have referred to it as a "BMW". They were BMWs modified by Alpina until 1983. After that they are designated Alpinas but built alongside the BMWs on which they are based (on BMW production lines). The E12-based B7 isn't less of an Alpina, but being an Alpina doesn't make it "not a BMW".

Again, I was only stating my personal opinion about the aesthetics of the B7 versus the standard E12. It is only opinion, and it doesn't need to be widely shared. If I had a B7 like the one in the ad that needed complete restoration, I'd either restore it to original condition with the Alpina stripes and interior and then sell it, or I'd delete the stripes, recover the interior, and keep it. I think E12/E28 Alpinas look tacky. To each his/her own, but that was my point. I didn't want to get into an argument in BMW semantics.

As for the orange car, it looks like an E9 with decals on the hood and Alpina rims, which I guess means it could be a B2. My take is that it would look better sans decals and front spoiler.
Adam W in MN
Posts: 5052
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Don't waste my motherf***in' time!
Contact:

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by Adam W in MN »

I didn't make the comment/implication you're referring to.

The orange car is purportedly a series 1 CSL that was converted when new by Alpina into a B2S. I was trying to goad you into saying it was just a BMW but not a real Alpina. I'll let the matter drop, we all have our opinions about tuner, marque, and style.
maybeillbuyit
Posts: 534
Joined: Feb 01, 2014 12:00 PM
Location: Vancouver BC

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by maybeillbuyit »

wkohler wrote:This E12 looked 10000x better with the stripes Frank had on it. Ive got pictures but I'm really lazy.

Come on Chris, you got to post some pics now :D
ArtJohnson
Posts: 105
Joined: May 26, 2008 7:23 AM
Location: SE Pennsylvania

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by ArtJohnson »

I've been away from BMW's for a while and would like any opinions about the current asking price. I think I remember that it was for sale 7 or 8 years ago for about half the current asking price.............. ???
Adam W in MN
Posts: 5052
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Don't waste my motherf***in' time!
Contact:

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by Adam W in MN »

The market for rare 1980's BMW's has lost its mind.
strupgolf
Posts: 176
Joined: Mar 07, 2011 9:35 AM
Location: moving soon, stay tuned

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by strupgolf »

Ok, that's a great lookin Alpina. What do you all think the worth is of a Alpina replica?. Same chassis, interior, wheels, graphic's. Just wondering 'cause I'm looking.
wkohler
Posts: 50921
Joined: Oct 05, 2006 11:04 PM
Location: Phönix, Arizona, USA
Contact:

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by wkohler »

No more value than a standard decent E12. If real parts are used there's some increase based on that but it depends.
BMW Performance
Posts: 523
Joined: Sep 18, 2007 12:33 PM

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by BMW Performance »

Car is now sold
inkatouring
Posts: 21
Joined: Sep 19, 2015 11:32 PM
Location: california

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by inkatouring »

This car is now in my garage undergoing a slow restoration/refresh. See the blog in my signature.

As for pictures of it without the stripes, when Frank Haas was selling it: https://germancarsforsaleblog.com/1981- ... 7-revisit/

The stripes are garish to say the least, but that's what makes it so 1980s!
maybeillbuyit
Posts: 534
Joined: Feb 01, 2014 12:00 PM
Location: Vancouver BC

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by maybeillbuyit »

Congrats on ownership. A special car sure. Thx for posting
Adam W in MN
Posts: 5052
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Don't waste my motherf***in' time!
Contact:

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by Adam W in MN »

I have other pics of it from when I visited Frank in 2003 and he let me drive it. Pm me if you want them
David B
Posts: 520
Joined: Mar 09, 2008 5:43 AM
Location: Savannah, Georgia

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by David B »

Adam W in MN wrote: May 02, 2017 10:51 AM The market for rare 1980's BMW's has lost its mind.
It’s a deal compared to 100k E30 M3’s.
Adam W in MN
Posts: 5052
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Don't waste my motherf***in' time!
Contact:

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by Adam W in MN »

David B wrote: Oct 18, 2020 1:09 AM
Adam W in MN wrote: May 02, 2017 10:51 AM The market for rare 1980's BMW's has lost its mind.
It’s a deal compared to 100k E30 M3’s.
I made that post over 3 years ago. The market has changed.
duggi
Posts: 2417
Joined: Apr 26, 2007 4:45 PM
Location: San Francisco, CA
Contact:

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by duggi »

inkatouring wrote: Oct 02, 2020 3:58 PMThe stripes are garish to say the least, but that's what makes it so 1980s!
70’s, actually. All styling for the e12, BMW and Alpina, was done in the 70’s.

It’s a beautiful car though\, congrats on bringing it into your garage!
Mrum
Posts: 21
Joined: Feb 28, 2018 9:49 PM

Re: Non-Affilliated 1981 E12 Alpina B7 #209

Post by Mrum »

Has this sold ? If not get in touch
Mrum
Post Reply