2760173

From BMW Group Archives:

“The BMW 2002 tii US VIN 2760173 was manufactured on December 17th, 1971 and delivered on December 29th, 1971 to the BMW dealer Bovensiepen in Buchloe. The original colour was Verona, paint code 024.”

Legal delivery to BMW dealer Bovensiepen in Buchloe, Germany (a.k.a., Alpina) on December 29, 1971.

Thus, this car was shipped from the factory to Alpina’s shop in Buchloe, Germany. Although Alpina components were added to various ‘02’s during the ‘02 era, the surviving population of cars known to be shipped from the factory to Alpina and modified in Alpina’s shop is quite small. The portion of those cars modified in Alpina’s shop that were also U.S.-spec and U.S.-bound is likely tiny. Thus, this is a rare example, fully-documented. The Alpina pedigree has been further confirmed by Alpina. Separately, this is also an early U.S.-spec tii, the 173rd U.S.-spec tii manufactured.

But the story gets even more interesting. The chassis was separated from its original engine and transmission by recent owners — owners who were unaware of the rare Alpina pedigree — but has now been reunited, by the current owner, with the original engine (stock tii), 5-speed close-ratio transmission (235/5), and Alpina sway bars. The car is currently undergoing a full restoration and re-paint in its original Verona, as illustrated in the photos below.

The original engine block, also shown below and stamped with the 2760173 engine number, was cast November 19, 1971 (“19L” within oval frame and “71” outside the oval frame).

Photos and BMW Group Archives data courtesy of coloincaalpine.