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.

For more information visit the Bonhams Motoring website at: https://cars.bonhams.com/