1974 Alpine A110 V85 1,300cc Coupe
Chassis no. A110 14525 One of the great names in postwar French motorsport, Alpine was the brainchild of Dieppe garagiste’s son, Jean Redele, who began in the early 1950s by developing a competition version of the popular little Renault 4CV, which won its class in the Mille Miglia three years running. From this he developed the first Alpine - the A106 with Renault 4CV running gear and streamlined glassfibre coupé bodywork - which was presented to Regie Renault in July 1955. This 747cc Renault 4CV-based machine set the trend for a range of sports cars culminating in the A610 of the mid-1990s. Glassfibre bodies and rear-mounted production engines remained a common theme for 40 years. Up-rated in 1956 with the new Dauphine engine, the A106 also established the company’s competition heritage with a class-winning performance in the 1956 Mille Miglia. By 1958 Redele was using a sophisticated tubular steel chassis, and in 1961 he introduced the A108 Berlinette Tour de France which featured a tubular backbone frame, double wishbone front suspension and a Renault Dauphine swing-axle set-up at the rear. It was developed into a potent - and often unbeatable - rally car, using a variety of Renault power units. In 1963 Alpine launched the A110 Berlinette, which became the mainspring of production, its rearward weight bias giving it outstanding cornering characteristics for rallying. In 1969 A110s finished 1-2-3 in the Coupe des Alpes and came third in the Monte Carlo Rally. The following year, Alpines again came third in the Monte and won the Italian Acropolis and Tour de Corse rallies. Alpine driver Jean-Claude Andruet became European Rally Champion. By 1971 the marque’s competition record had endeared Alpine to Renault to such an extent that they were appointed as its official competition wing. More successes followed in 1971-72-73. As featured on the front cover of the German motoring magazine Oldtimer Praxis in February 2004, this German registered 1.3-litre A110 boasts a special limited-edition colour scheme of white with orange stripes and is presented in mint condition. Other special features include a long-range fuel tank, additional rally lights and a built-in roll cage. Petite and beautifully proportioned, the Alpine was a highly effective rally car and the more luxurious road versions provided an entertaining and rewarding drive.
| Specification |
| Production Start |
1974 |
| Country of origin |
France |
