• Number 076 of a limited series • Built to Gulf States specification • Left-hand drive • First registered in the UK in 2007 • Only 1,258 miles from new "Burkard Bovensiepen's Alpina company has for more than 30 years produced the niche models that BMW itself does not want to make.

Based in the Bavarian town of Buchloe, an hour or so from BMW's Munich headquarters, Alpina creates cars for connoisseurs.

They are expensive and not necessarily more powerful or faster than standard BMWs, but they do offer combinations not available from the factory.'-" - Car & Driver .

Founded by Burkard Bovensiepen, the German firm of Alpina began producing tuned versions of BMW models in the 1960s before the Bavarian company's own Motorsport Department launched its now famous 'M' range.

A close collaborator with BMW from its earliest days, Alpina enjoys motor manufacturer status in Germany and can take much of the credit for establishing BMW's high performance image thanks to a succession of sensatio...