At first Alpina offered a choice of four different engines.
The engines were all four cylinder and the models were:
The A1 / 3 - 1975 to 1977
Based on BMW’s E21 320, the 320 A1/3s used the 320’s 2.0-liter, four-cylinder M10 engines but were equipped with duel Solex carburetors and produced 122 hp (90 kW) @ 5,800 rpm.. (as opposed to the 320’s 109 hp/80 kW) ..With 130 ft. lbs. of torque (170 Nm) @ 4,000 rpm, the A1/3s reached 100 km/h (62 mph) in 9.7 seconds with a top speed of 112 mph (181 km/h) - Production of the E21 A1/3s ended in 1977 - More info on the early E21 Alpinas ~~~> http://bit.ly/JUxSHo
The A2 / 3 - 1975 to 1977
- Base: E21 320
- Two Solex DDH 45 carburetors
- 300 degree camshaft
- 9,5:1 compression
- 150 hp (112kW)
- 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.5 seconds
- Top speed: 126 mph (204 km/h)
The A4 / 3 - 1976 to 1977
- Base: E21 320i
- Kugelfischer modified mechanical injection
- 300-degree camshaft and new valves
- 160 hp (119 kW) @6700 rpm
- Torque: 130 ft-lb (180 Nm) @5500 rpm
- Mm 10.0:1 compression
- 120 units were made produced
The A4S / 3 (export only) 1976 to 1977
- Base: E21 320i
- 170 hp (127kW) @ 6700 rpm
- 130 ft-lb (180 Nm) @5500 rpm
- 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) 7.8 seconds
- Top speed: 132 mph (212 km/h)
The engines used in these models were similar to the earlier versions fitted to the ‘02 series cars, with only small changes. Alpina four cylinder engines, for 3-series cars, were identified by their “/3” designations.
Alpina also produced the C1 with a 6-cylinder engine. It had a 2.3 liter, 170 hp engine and its performance was equal to the A4/3 but the C1 had considerably greater refinement. Alpina had also produced a very rare model, a C1 2.3 based on the E21 Baur TopCabriolet (TC1).
