Here's the definitive list of the 10 best ever Alpina road cars

Classy E24 635CSi-based coupe action, the B7 Turbo had 326bhp and managed 0–62mph in 6.1secs. Though you want an ’84 – ’86 one, because the introduction of compulsory catalytic converters in late ’86 dropped the power by 10bhp.

Faster than a Ferrari Testarossa was the legend – but carried more people. It’s an E34 535i with a pair of Garrett turbos, taking the standard car from 208bhp to 355. Now that’s an upgrade.

Alpina’s modded 2002 tii featured engine tweaks, spotlights, an interior retrim and even Alpina graphics. Sort of a road/rally mashup, we’ll take one in contemporary ‘Inka’ orange – paint code ‘022’ fact fans.

There were Alpina 3 Series’ before this, but it’s the C1 2.3 that stands out. A paltry 168bhp sounds a bit light, but in a car that weighed just 1,100kg and had upgraded suspension in the early ’80s, it ruled.

You’ll want the later 3.5 for the E30. A straight six again, the biggest motor in the 3 Series at the time was the 325i, and the Alpina had a 251bhp max – enough to cover off a contemporary M3 (even if it did share the suspension and aero stuff).

OK, so it’s a racecar, but the B6 GT3 (s/c 4.4-litre V8 from the B6 S with 523bhp), walloped the 2009 season. In 2011 it won the ADAC GT Masters championship. Some 99 B3 GT3 (E92 3 Series based) were produced as a celebration.

Probably one of the most elegant cars ever produced, the 3.0 CS could be converted as a super-slinky road car by Alpina. At this point, the CS was still badged as a BMW rather than an Alpina – but everyone knew the score.

Naturally aspirated and the best of BMW’s 5 Series shapes, the B9 3.5 had a 3.5-litre straight six featuring upgraded cams, Mahle pistons and Motronic engine management. Not devastating, it still saw off 0–62mph in 6.7secs and had 241bhp.

It’s an 850CSi V12 but bored to 5.7 litres and cammed to produce 410bhp from about 375 – enough to liven up what was a slightly stodgy Grand Tourer. Came as manual, or with Alpina’s ‘Switch-Tronic’ wheel-mounted shift buttons.

But you want the left-hooker. Mainly because the LHD configuration allowed for three turbos on the 3.0-litre straight six diesel (RHD cars only got two, and less grunt), meaning 383bhp, 590lb ft, 0–62mph in 4.4secs and a 178mph vmax.