COLOR: FJORD
OWNERS: DANNY MINKIN
OWNED SINCE: UNKNOWN
LOCATION: FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA
The history of the ALPINA-enhanced E3 that eventually found its way into Danny Minkin's collection was a tale woven with international threads and a touch of serendipity. He learned from the previous owner's son about its initial life in Israel, followed by a significant journey to Max Heidegger AG in Liechtenstein in 1979. There, under the skilled hands of ALPINA, the standard BMW was transformed into something truly special. Once the upgrades were complete, the car returned to Israel, remaining there until the early 1990s when its owner relocated to Miami, Florida. Minkin also discovered that the car received regular care at a shop in nearby Pompano Beach, suggesting a continued appreciation for its unique character.
However, the car's American sojourn took an unexpected turn. The previous owner faced a sudden departure from the United States, leaving the cherished ALPINA behind. As a result, a mechanic's lien was placed on the vehicle, leading it to be sold to another shop in Fort Lauderdale, its future seemingly relegated to being a mere source of spare parts for other BMW enthusiasts.
It was amidst this backdrop of forgotten potential that fate intervened. Minkin, a devoted BMW and ALPINA aficionado, stumbled upon this very E3 a mere three miles from his own home. The car was situated at a Fort Lauderdale shop, surrounded by a collection of other BMWs bearing "for sale" signs. Drawn by an almost magnetic pull, Minkin wandered through the inventory, his gaze ultimately settling upon the E3, elevated on a lift, seemingly awaiting a different destiny. When he inquired about purchasing it, the shop owner, perhaps envisioning quicker sales from the other readily available vehicles, suggested Minkin return in a few weeks, anticipating those cars would be sold by then.