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Another week, another Alpina treat from our favorite new tuner seller from Japan. This time, unlike the mostly 5-series based models that have popped up for sale there is a E32 model on offer. The E32 was a big step up in terms of luxury and driving dynamics from the E23, fully modernizing the high end lineup for BMW. As they had with previous models, Alpina immediately had their hand with the new model and breathed their normal aftermarket life into the large executive sedan. That meant a turned up engine good for 250 horsepower (261 without catalyst) although that engine – from the E28 B10 and E30 B6 – was replaced with a 254 horsepower version in 1988 which was shared with the E34 B10 3.5/1. In addition, the normal suspension, wheel and interior treatments were complimented by some minor aerodynamic tweaks and exhaust upgrades to create a decidedly more performance oriented luxury car:
This 325ix was rebuilt as a present for the seller’s father, but apparently Dad wanted an SUV instead. I’m guessing it was a sort of homespun “Pimp My Ride” judging by the looks of it – take the old E30 and pretty much redo it top to bottom, with some extra flair added for good measure. I already know the flair is going to be polarizing, but there’s enough good stuff in here to keep it out of the “Friday Fail” column for me. Wherever you think it lands on the taste scale, there’s no question that a lot of effort was put into giving this 325ix a new life.
Following from yesterday’s early Porsche 930 here we have an example from the other end of the spectrum: a Silver Metallic 1989 Porsche 930, located in California, with 51,300 miles on it. 1989 marked the other significant point in the 930’s evolution as Porsche finally fitted the car with a 5-speed manual transmission in place of the 4-speed that had been standard throughout the model’s life. Oh, and it was the last year of the 930’s production. That makes these models highly regarded on the collector market and, as we can glean from the asking price here, quite a bit more valuable than some of the preceding years. It is these two ends of the 930 spectrum, the early 3.0 liter cars and the final year G50-equipped cars, that are commanding the most value these days and it has been interesting to compare the relative values of each. 1989 signaled the end of an important era for Porsche, and the 911 in general, as the cars produced over the previous decade had cemented the long-term viability of the 911 within Porsche’s ranks. It would also be the same year the 964 was introduced, a model that propelled the 911 forward and brought with it significant changes. As a way to say goodbye to the classic 911 design, the 5-speed 930 made for a nice departure.
We (along with every BMW enthusiast site) go through so many iterations of E30s, but if you could finally go out and get one, how would you want yours? The answers are as diverse as coffee preferences. Sure, the starting point is energetic and standard, but there are a million ways to take it.
Personally, with the E30 M3 boat sailed, I think I’d want to get a little crazy with an engine-swapped example. While the E28 M5’s S38 is a dream, the E36’s S52 is among the most popular choices and readily available (as well as significantly cheaper to maintain). Today’s 325i has some issues that will make it continue to be a project, but the heavy lifting has been done to make it a true hoonmobile. A PPI has been done, which is more than many of the passed-on projects we see here can offer. Once the to-dos get sorted, it’s a good-looking E30 that is ready to be made great.
The 1989 Porsche 944 we featured at the end of last month is back up for sale at the same price. For those interested in reliving their 1980s fantasies, this is a rather affordable and stylish way to do it.
The below post originally appeared on our site November 25, 2014:
