The bodywork is done. The period livery has been studied meticulously from photographs and replicated on the vehicle. The original stripes which were found underneath layers of paint have been colour matched and tediously re-created above the fresh coat of 2K white. I think it speaks for itself.
The body work has been completed, the Alpina has been prepped, primed and has now received its colour matched top coat. Blue on the inside and white on the outside. Once the closing panels are done and fitted we will move onto the livery.
The rear group 2 arches were found to be 90% intact. We have added some material where it had been cut away and recreated the shape of the wheel opening as per the photographs. New arches had to be fitted to the front. The car is going into the paint shop today.
We have just begun the restoration of a very significant BMW. This 2800CS was lent to Alpina by BMW and entered in the Spa 24hr. It finished 9th overall. The following year BMW sold the car to Alpina along with 3 others. All four cars were race prepared to the latest Group 2 specifications and receiving bubble arches, wider wheels and Alpina’s famous orange and satin black livery. After a couple of seasons the car changed owners and in 1973 was converted to 3.0 CSL specification with light weight aluminium panels, full race 3.5 litre Alpina engine, slide throttle fuel injection and Alpina modified suspension and subframes. We have started to dissect the car and have revealed much of its past. Later in the 70’s the car was fitted with some ultra wide wheel arch extensions. Having removed those we found that most of the original Group 2 CSL arches remained intact underneath. Rubbing down through the layers of paint has also revealed the cars original CSL livery which we will ultimately recreate.
This week our classic car restoration expert Ian Goodwright is welding up an A35 shell. The panels have come from Austin Clayton and are very good quality. So far the offside sills are done, the front floors and front panels. Ian will be working on the door hinge panels and nearside sill before moving round to the back.
