Alpine A110

Alpine A110 Berlinetta

The Alpine A110 is a sports car of the French car manufacturer Alpine, which was produced from 1962 to 1977. It was created as an evolution of the A108 Berlinetta and for many years has been used successfully in the international racing and rallying. The best-known achievements are the victories in the Monte Carlo Rally, winning the European Championship in rallying and winning the World Rally Championship (1971 and 1973).

Models

The Alpine A110 was offered in three different body styles. The most-produced model was the hatchback version under the name " Berlinetta ". In addition, at times a two-seat Alpine A110 Cabriolet and the Alpine A110 GT4, a 2 2- seater sports coupe was offered with an independent body.

Alpine A110 Berlinetta

The Alpine A110 Berlinetta is the most famous model. He was presented with the additional designation "Tour de France " in Paris in 1962 to the public. At this time, the car was still marketed exclusively as Alpine, without the " Renault ". 1962 Alpine was still completely independent of Renault. Only in the 1970s, Renault bought in several steps Alpine and took over the brand in 1978 to 100 %, as the Alpine A110 Berlinetta was no longer built.

The shape of the vehicle substantially corresponds to that of the A108 Berlinetta of 1960, which was developed from the A108 Convertible. However, among other things, the air inlets are closed at the sides and the tank connection piece moved. The body of the A110 Berlinetta was revised in 1962-1977 in details several times. The technology has been continuously developed and revised. The early versions of the Alpine A110 Berlinetta had ( 1962-1967 ) is not the typical double headlamps, they were fitted as standard until 1967. Very early A110 also had the dashboard of the A108. The transitions between the models were fluent. 1967/1968 there were new dual headlights and other details of the body have been slightly revised ( air intakes, trim, headlights, etc.). 1970 other indicators were introduced, which moved up and were back in 1971 again changed. Also, there was in 1970 a broadened racing version of the A110 Berlinetta at the factory. In 1973, the first models were tested with 4-hole - wheels. The Alpine A110 also got the rear suspension of the Alpine A310 4- cylinder. In 1974, the door handles have been revised and in 1977 received the last Alpine A110 Berlinetta other tail lights.

The Alpine A110 Berlinetta was offered with different four-cylinder engines. The first vehicles were the engine of the Renault 8, which was later optimized by Gordini. Parallel to the model changeover at Renault followed engines of the Renault 12 also versions that met the work vehicles used in racing, were available as a street version. Since the vehicles were made ​​by hand according to the customer, there are individual differences between the cars at the factory.

The Alpine A110 Berlinetta was from 1962 to 1977 in Dieppe, France produced. In addition, there were built under license in Mexico (1965-1974) at National Diesel ( DINA ) as Dinalpin, Spain ( 1963-1977 ) at FASA and in Bulgaria from 1967 as Bulgaralpine. The under license from F.A.S.A. can be seen, among others, the amended Alpine emblem or slightly rounded A of Alpine. The 1967 to 1973 in Bulgaria built as Bulgaralpine A110 predominantly consisted delivered French original parts. However, the plastic bodies of the sports car came from Bulgarian production. A total of about 150 vehicles were produced.

Alpine A110 Cabriolet

The Alpine A110 Cabriolet is a rarity. Only about 60 to 70 pieces were produced from about 1963 to 1969. It is an evolution of the Alpine A108 Cabriolet Sport of 1960.

1960 Phillipe Charles began with a review of the body of the Alpine A108 convertible. His design was tested at Citroen at the Quai de Jard in the wind tunnel and had a low air resistance. The model year 1960 brought first for the Alpine A108 a decisive change. It was the form that became world famous in 1962 with the A110.

For diesel National ( DINA ) in Mexico, the A110- Cabriolet from 1965 to 1967 was built as Dinalpin under license. More under license existed in Bulgaria.

Alpine A110 GT4

In 1962, presented GT4 was a 2 2- seater version of the A110. He should be " Alpine familiale " to address another group of customers who wanted more comfort and practicality. This Alpine resorted to a concept that had been briefly already been implemented in the previous model.

The body of the GT4 was independent. Instead of Fließhecks the car had a notchback with trapezoidal roof line. Alpine used numerous attachments the Renault Floride; these included the door handles, headlights and some parts of the interior. The drive technology has also been adopted by the Renault 8. The chassis has been extended, however, to meet the comfort requirements of the model justice. The wheelbase was now 2,270 mm. At the same time the GT4 30 mm was higher than the Berlinetta.

The plastic body of the GT4 was produced by Chappe et Gessalin, a resident of Brie -Comte- Robert coachbuilding company. Chappe et Gessalin built the car together, painted it and installed the interior. Finally, the vehicles were transported to Dieppe, where Alpine mechanic internals the engine, chassis and transmission.

The A110 GT4 was built from 1962 to 1969 in France in a quantity of 263 vehicles. From 1965 to 1974 produced diesel National ( DINA ) in Mexico as a designated Dinalpin license version of the A110 GT4. Here again created 118 copies.

Manufacturers, marketing

Developer and manufacturer of the Alpine A110 Berlinetta is the sports car manufacturer Alpine. In the vehicle documents only Alpine is therefore listed as a manufacturer.

The connection of the two brand names Alpine and Renault was due to a cooperation in racing. The name " Alpine Renault " first appeared in 1967 in the 24- hour race at Le Mans on a Alpine vehicle and was subsequently used in racing when Renault was financially involved. Such a connection of two brand names is common in racing today. Only after 1967 the name " Alpine Renault " was also used in the Alpine A110 Berlinetta.

The first years were Alpine vehicles marketed exclusively through the Alpine office in Paris, as well as the Alpine A110. From 1965, Renault dealers selling vehicles of Alpine. The collaboration between Renault and Alpine and Jean Redele ( founder and former owner of the brand Alpine) was found by accident. The father of Jean Redele was Renault dealer, so Jean Redele took over the Renault garage of his father and wanted to use this contact to Renault for themselves. Initially, Renault had no interest in selling the Alpine vehicles and refused to cooperate. In 1965, after Alpine racing could prove a lot of success, Renault agreed to cooperate. Jean Redele could offer its vehicles so a wider range of customers. It was at this time no more than a collaboration of two automakers that only ended in the 1970s with the gradual takeover of the Alpine brand and the complete sale of the brand to Renault.

However, Jean Redele not only worked together with Renault, but also with Citroën, with Willys -Overland, with ETO Bullet, with Chappe et Gessalin, with FASA, with diesel National, with Gillet d' Herstal and with Giovanni Michelotti. With O.S.I. ( Officine Stampaggi industrialization ) Alpine worked on plastic molded floor assemblies for Ferrari.

The license production of the Alpine A110 were sold as Bulgaralpine, Dinalpin and FASA Alpine. The under license from Willys Overland corresponded to the Alpine A108. There were no models of the A110 were built.

Motorsport

The Alpine A110 was used from 1963 factory in motorsport, scoring a number of successes. The focus was on rally events and stage races. Initially concentrated Alpine factory use on French events such as the Monte Carlo Rally, the Rally Lyon Charbonnières or the Tour de France for automobiles. The small cars with their 1.1 liter engines had it hard to compete against the better-equipped competitors. Nevertheless Alpine factory rider reached at these events some class wins. From 1966 Alpine cars were competitive. Alpine received financial support from Renault since that time. In 1966 the A110 Berlinetta 1300. The work team went with Jean Vinatier, Mauro and Lucien Bianchi and Gérard Larrousse at the start. Larrousse 1967 French Vice - Rally Champion, and Jean -Claude Andruet won the 1968 French Rally Championship in Alpine. The following year, won three French pilots Alpine Rally title. After this success, the factory expanded its use on European rally races and from 1973 to the World Rally Championship. It came with the A110 in 1800, which was homologated for Group 4 ( Special Grand Touring cars with an annual production of 500 vehicles ). 1973, the first year of WRC, won Alpine pilots six overall victories in the rounds of the World Rally Championship. Some A110s have been upgraded for races to Group 5 vehicles and also achieved this class victories.

Specifications

Sources: auto, motor und sport, Issue 16/1969, p 37 car models, catalog 1970/71, United Motor publishers Racing and sports car catalog 1979 United Motor publishers