Behind the Wheel #25 – BMW E21 C1 2.3 Alpina

This week we are featuring a car most of you might have seen numerous times, Shane’s 1981 BMW E21 C1 2.3 Alpina.

Get ready for a good read as this one is very well-detailed. This was his first car, bought 19 years ago from Summerset. Bought this as a project, with no interior (supposed to have the brown cloth with blue/green stripes), one Alpina wheel and a mouse living in the dashboard for £800. The car was initially used for the 1/4 mile races back in the day, until they found out it was a genuine TWR and decided to return it to its original state…or as close as possible.

The engine used to run on K-Electronic Injection, but it’s now running triple 45DCOE Webber Carbs, Stach Cam, Verier Pulley, the cylinder head is 885, it’s got a 6 branch tubular manifold, flowing down to a 3” exhaust, with a 2.5” twin exit. The bottom end is a 2.0L M20 with 2.5 E30 325i pistons, it’s got a lightened flywheel as well, so it’s quite rev-happy. He’s also kept the original M20 2.3 Alpina engine as a spare.

It’s currently sitting on Spax adjustable dampers, Spax springs, paired with a set of Volvo 240 4 Pot calipers upfront, E30 rear calipers, upgraded discs, and EBC Red Stuff pads. The car has been fully repainted by him as well, and as you can clearly see, he spent countless hours getting it done to his own liking and that’s why the interior has been fully re-trimmed.

Keep up to date
Motorist Newsletter