Car of the Month

September 2007

Sandoval Ignacio's Alpina Hot Rod 2002

(Sorry for the delay computer problems)

ALPINA HOT ROD REPLICA

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AFTER LOOKING AT MANY CARS IN ORDER TO REPLACE MY LAST 02, I FINALLY FOUND A SOUND RESTORATION MATERIAL.
A STOCK 02 FITTED WITH A 38MM DOWNDRAFT CARB, SHOWING A STRAIGHT AND RUST-FREE BODY.

THERE WERE SIGNALS OF NO MONEY INVESTED FOR A LONG TIME, THE BODY HAD A FEW DENTS AND THE PAINT (INKA COLOR) WAS IN VERY POOR CONDITION.

THE DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, I TOOK IT TO THE BODY SHOP FOR A COMPLETE RESTORATION JOB.
WHILE THE CAR WAS AT THE SHOP, I SENT AN INTERNET PICTURE OF A RESTORED INKA 02 TO MY FRIEND GEORGE, A CAR NUT AND TANKER BROKER LIVING IN CONNETICUT. HE THOUGHT THE CAR LOOKED LIKE A HUGE MANDARINE. CONSEQUENTLY, I CONSIDERED THE IDEA OF DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THE CAR.

YEARS BEFORE, I HAD SEEN AN ARTICLE ON BIMMER MAGAZINE (APR99) ABOUT A BEAUTIFUL CAR BUILT BY JAYMIC, THE CAR WAS PAINTED IN ORANGE AND BLACK. THE ARTICLE ALSO INCLUDED INFO ABOUT AN ALPINA HOT ROD ROADGOING VERSION.

SINCE I COULD NOT FIND MY MAGAZINE, I KINDLY ASKED JAYMIC TO FORWARD ME SOME RELATED PICTURES. THEY SENT ME A VERY NICE PICTURE OF THE JAYMIC CAR, KEITH MORLEY WAS STANDING NEXT TO IT.

AFTER SHARING THE TWO COLOR OPTION WITH SOME FRIENDS AND INDUSTRY EXPERTS, THE DECISION WAS TAKEN, MY 02 WAS GOING TO BE REPAINTED IN COLORADO ORANGE AND BLACK. I CALLED THE SHOP AND INSTRUCTED THEM ACCORDINGLY.

A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THE RESTORATION JOB WAS FINISHED AND THE CAR LOOKED READY, AT LEAST THAT WAS WHAT I THOUGHT THEN.

THE FOLLOWING YEAR I DECIDED TO GIVE THE CAR A MORE AGRESIVE LOOK AND ORDERED A SET OF ALPINA WHEELS AND BUBBLE FENDERS. SOME HIGH PERFORMANCE PARTS WERE ORDERED AS WELL.
TODAY, I THINK THE CAR LOOKS READY…

IT IS FUN TO DRIVE IT HARD, MAKES A LOUD SOUND AND FEELS PRETTY STIFF.

THE PARTS FITTED SO FAR, APPEAR LISTED BELOW.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
HIGH COMPRESSION PISTONS,
INTAKE
DUAL SIDEDRAFT 40 DCOE WEBERS
EXHAUST
HEADERS
2.5” DIAMETER MUFFLER
SUSPENSION
H&R LOWERING SPRINGS
GAS SACHS FRONT / BILSTEINS REAR
URETHANE BUSHINGS FRONT / REAR
EIBACK 25MM WHEEL SPACERS
INTERIOR
02 TURBO STEERING WHEEL (PRESENT FROM A FRIEND)
INERTIA SEAT BELTS
EXTERIOR
POLYURETHANE PAINT MATT BLACK
WEBASTO FOLDING ROOF (NEW ROOF/OLD STOCK)
ALPINA FLARES SCHWEINEBACKEN
ALPINA STICKERS
WHEELS
ALPINA WHEELS 6.5X13
MICHELIN TIRES 185/70 R13
REPLACEMENT PARTS
PINIONS, CHAINS, POLLEYS, HOSES, OIL PUMP,VALVES, SEALS, GASKETS, WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR , BMW STICKERS,BECKER MEXICO STEREO, FRONT SEAT COVERS, HEADLINER, CARPET, MAT SET, INDICATOR WIPER SWITCH, REAR-SIDE BUMPERS.

VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO:
RICHARD STERN, AND AXEL RIMPLER (ALPINA), ALBRECHT WALLOTH (WALLOTHNESCH), FAY (JAYMIC), MICHAEL CAHSEL (CAHSEL).

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