One to Buy: 1 of 1 UK market 1989 Alpina Z1 RLE (SOLD)
Despite a high price and left-hand drive only, BMW managed to sell 8000 examples of the avant-garde Z1 between late 1988 and mid 1991. It helped that the little two-seat Roadster was launched into a red hot collector car market, but there was also much pent-up demand (particularly in Germany) as BMW hadn’t offered such a machine for three decades (when the 507 was in production).
The only real criticism of the Z1 was that it could have handled considerably more power than the 170bhp developed by its 2.5-litre straight six which was nearly an exact match for a standard E30 325i unit.
This lack of grunt was addressed when Alpina put their Z1 RLE into production during August 1990. The RLE (Roadster Limited Edition) featured Alpina’s 2.7-litre motor from the B3 2.7 combined with a new Z1-specific exhaust system.
In addition to its new 200bhp engine, the RLE came with a host of other Alpina enhancements to include 17-inch wheels, a trademark decal kit (in gold or silver), Alpina road and engine speed gauges, an Alpina steering wheel and Alpina gear knob.
By the time production was discontinued in August 1991, only 66 Z1 customers had elected to have their car uprated to RLE trim.
Of these, just one RLE was supplied to the UK and that car is set to go under the hammer at Bonhams’ Goodwood Festival of Speed auction on July 14th.
Owned by the vendor since December 1991, it is showing a little over 8000 miles from new and last underwent a major service in 2021.
Reprinted below is Bonhams’ description for this extremely rare Alpina-tuned Z1:
Chassis no. WBABA91020AL00266
Engine no. C2/6 00266/8680
The only Roadster LE supplied in the UK by Sytner
Known ownership history
Present ownership since December 1991
Less than 8,100 miles.
Major service in 2021 (all belts changed)
In 1990 Alpina informed Sytner of their intention to produce a Roadster Limited Edition version of the Z1 to coincide with the final production run at Munich. The run was limited to only 66 cars converted at the Alpina factory. Alpina asked Sytner if the owner of the Z1 offered today would be interested in having his car completed to Roadster Limited Edition specification and thus being one of the 66 cars. This offer was accepted and meant that this particular Z1 would be the only Roadster LE to be assembled and supplied in the UK by Sytner.
In June 1990, the Z1 engine was sent to Alpina in Germany and was returned and reinstalled by Sytner in July. The new engine number assigned was '266'. Alpina allocated number '4' out of the 66 for this particular Z1 RLE. It is also probably the earliest chassis number to be converted to LE Roadster specification. Out of the 66 cars, 50% were bought by Alpina's Japanese importer, one car ('4') went to the UK, and the rest to German and other European customers.
According to the only German road test (in Motor und Sport), the engine develops 200bhp and not the 210bhp of a normal C2 because of the catalytic converter. Torque is the same at 213lb/ft. While the exhaust system is new, the rear section is adapted from the original. In addition to the aforementioned items, the LE Roadster pack includes the following: 3.73:1 limited-slip differential, three-spoke MoMo steering wheel, two front springs, silver and leather dashboard sign and seven Alpina number emblems (four for wheels, one for steering wheel, two spares)
The current vendor purchased the Z1 RLE on 6th December 1991. Most of the service bills from acquisition in 1991 until circa 2001 are available. After that the car went into professional storage when the vendor moved abroad. Returning to the UK in 2010, he retrieved the car and used it briefly (hence MoTs and service bills in 2012/2013), then worked abroad again so the car went back into storage.
The last major service was carried out in 2021 when all the engine belts, including the cam belt, were changed. Seldom, if ever, taken out in the rain, the car is described as in good condition throughout, having covered fewer than 8,100 miles from new. Accompanying documentation consists of sundry bills, MoT to June 2024, a V5C Registration Certificate, and Sytner letter of authentication.
