One to Buy: ex-Nicole Racing 1987 Alpina B7 Turbo KAT
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When it comes to hot executive Saloons of the 1980s, Alpina’s B7 Turbo has it all.
Starting with a BMW E28 535i, Alpina added its familiar blend of uprated suspension, wider wheels, a limited-slip differential and transmission oil cooler, revised aero and an array of sporty interior enhancements. Where the B7 Turbo differed from its less expensive E28-based counterparts was in the engine bay.
Instead of a normally aspirated straight six, Alpina equipped the B7 Turbo with a 296bhp forced induction motor riddled with special equipment: an intercooled KKK turbo was joined by the latest digital engine management and fuel-injection systems along with lightweight pistons, revised cylinder heads with trick camshafts and a custom inlet manifold.
In October 1986, Alpina began to offer a more environmentally friendly version of the B7 Turbo with a specially developed free-flow catalytic converter made of platinum and rhodium instead of the usual ceramics. Despite a slightly lower compression ratio and a camshaft with less overlap, the KAT engine (which was now the same fitted to the 6-series-based B7 Turbo) developed 20bhp more than the non-catalysed model.
By the time production of the B7 Turbo ended in late 1987, just 42 examples of the KAT version had been completed, a superb example of which will be going under the hammer at Bonhams’ Scottsdale auction in Arizona on January 23rd.
Chassis WAPB7TL0168730253 was delivered to Alpina’s Japanese distributor, Nicole Racing in Yokohama, on September 16th 1986. Configured in Schwartzblau Metallic with Alpina’s trademark Deko Set and a five-speed manual gearbox, the car was optioned with heated Alpina seats, air-conditioning, an electric sunroof, electric windows, headlamp wash / wipe and a high end audio system.
Having served as a press car, Nicole Racing registered ‘0253’ in 1987 and retained it until 2015 at which point the B7 departed for the United States. Since acquisition by the current custodian in 2022, over $14,000 has been spent on maintenance and the car has also been fitted with a modern Blaupunkt Bremen head unit.
Chassis ‘0253’ heads to auction with a little under 96,000km on the odometer. It is accompanied by a comprehensive history file that includes a copy of the original purchase invoice plus Japanese and US service records.
