Photo source: http://www.talbotco.com/vitaloni_pics/baby_tornado_2.jpg. Plus, if you’re not in the mood for B-road lairiness, just park it and drink in the exquisite shape and faultless detailing. The ‘Group 4’ option became the ‘Pack GT’ for Series 2, though it seems to have had different names for different markets; ‘S’ in Germany and ‘F-Pack’ in Japan (!) The final piece of the puzzle is the frontal treatment of the car. At 24, he was France’s youngest new car dealer. In 1922 Jean was the firstborn to Emile and his wife Madeleine Prieur. taillamps, BBS gold alloy wheels, Recaro seats, etc. Il est tout à fait impossible de résumer l'Alpine A110 à un seul moteur, ce modèle puisant dans la banque d’organes de Renault, la Berlinette va suivre l’évolution de cylindrée de la marque au Losange qui, devant le sérieux et la motivation de Jean Rédélé, a entre-temps accordé sa confiance à la marque Alpine. However, Michel Béligond had multiple sclerosis. Peter Stevens had been directly involved with the Alpine for the introduction of the V6 model, launched in late 1976. I’d say this kind of stuff is worthy of being published in the Christmas special of ANY quality car magazine, this is quality stuff I love to read during the holiday season, the pictures the back ground information, everything ! American Brands: AMC, Jeep and All Others, Tractors, Lawn Mowers, Off-Road Equipment, Curbside Classic: 1971-76 Alpine A310 – Bittersweet Edge, Most of the early history of Alpine in this piece was drawn from, Professor Peter Stevens on his time contributing to the A310, http://www.talbotco.com/vitaloni_pics/baby_tornado_2.jpg, Vintage Photos: A Drive Down Sunset Strip in 1966 (Part 1) – The Google Street View Prequel, Curbside Outtake: 1989 Merkur XR4Ti – Last Merk Standing, The Changing Shape Of Cadillacs: 1959 DeVille and 2020 Escalade ESV – Same Wheelbase, Length and Width, Curbside Classic: 1971 Pontiac T-37 – We Build Confusion, Vintage Wishful Thinking: “Lazy Man’s Power Mower” – Air Conditioned Luxury. Additionally, I think I’ve always been biased against the A310 because of the ’80s version of it and the fact that it wasn’t an A110, but the four-cylinder is a beauty. All Rights Reserved. Probably also sold the 1994 or so Renault 19 to a relative that my sister ended up trading in for $300 when it was 10 years old; it had had a hard life! The factory continued to release new and innovative road cars throughout the Seventies and Eighties, including the A310 V6 and the GTA. A highly competent development of the ’84 car, the A610 boasted 250bhp from its 3-litre V6, endowing it with a 165mph top speed. The car was styled as a "Berlinette", which in the post-WWII era refers to a small enclosed two-door Berline, better-known as a coupé. Rédélé had been chafing at his lack of independence within Alpine, and with the cabriolet project he was finally able to get his own way on the matter. The result of this endeavour was the aluminium-bodied, moustachioed ‘Renault Special’ built by coachbuilder Allemano. High-tech features included ‘plip’ remote central locking and electronic doorhandles, while the centre console was dominated by surely the most comprehensive hi-fi system ever to grace an ’80s production car – a graphically equalised button-fest clearly conceived for big-haired power ballads. Cependant les fonds lui … Required fields are marked *. 21 déc. A knee-high fastback with a glassfibre skin and a Gordini-tuned sting in its stubby tail, the car would be superseded in ’63 by the definitive four-cylinder Alpine, the A110. Before delivery commenced on production models that October, there was a final change to the body; the rear lights that sat above the bumper under flush plexiglas panels on the prototype were relocated and replaced with a cluster of blister units. Adding to Alpine’s woes was a workers’ strike in 1972. As a result, he was appointed Renault’s official dealer in Dieppe. Alpine sorted the handling on the 310 simply by putting huge tyres on the rear (they’re even bigger on this car) and it seems to have worked. The Alpine A110 was introduced as an evolution of the A108. The Alpine A310 was a sports car with a rear-mounted engine and was initially powered by a four-cylinder 1.6 L sourced Renault 17 TS/Gordini engine. He was head of styling from 1965 to 1975, and continued with Renault when Robert Opron took the head job, perhaps relieved to cede the administrative tasks and focus on design. The new Alpine Renault A310 sets new standards for small-engined sports cars.’, Not everyone was impressed; German magazine Autorevue described it as ‘too underpowered for an enthusiast car and not luxurious enough for a luxury car.’. I really can’t see the Alpine having anything other than quite limited success in the US in the best of circumstances. 1967 also saw the introduction of the A211 sports prototype. It’s not as polished as the GTA Turbo, and it lacks the raw appeal of the A110, yet to my mind that makes it the perfect compromise. From that I first learnt of the A310’s existence and, as a six-year-old, I was transfixed. I have been fascinated by the A110 for a long time, as a sort of mini-Porsche 911, but the long Alpine lineage before and after the A110 is something that I knew nothing about, and I did not know even where to start looking. The Alpine was not a cheap car. It was the weekend of the Grand Prix, so we jumped on our bikes to avoid the traffic and roadblocks, and when we arrived I couldn’t believe what he had led me to. To lose that for a LeBaron convertible in an ill-fitting Italian suit is just wrong. Review of the Teamslot Renault Alpine A310 Gp.5 - posted in 1:32 scale Cars: Teamslot Alpine A310 ReviewSlotForum has never known a Teamslot release to generate as much pre-release excitement as this Alpine-Renault A310. However, this shape looks to be the work of Aldo Sessano, of Bocanegra fame and who had also penned the Lancia Fulvia-based 1971 Coggiola Dunja seen at bottom left. Hans Ledwinka had conceived the backbone frame nearly fifty years prior and first used it in his 1921 Tatra T11. of Jean Rédélé and the Alpine years to the mid-1960s. Perhaps you could flex your writing muscles with something for CC around the collection you attend to. Great find and a magnifique article Don! Plus the GTA/A610–I’m a fan of all of them. I’m not sure where the early ones were sourced. Sites sport automobile du groupe Renault. It was also anticipated to put it in a completely new Alpine road car. This is my method for tuning Alpine A310. And to eventually ensnare for himself a share in ownership of Fissore. Maxi 350 ch. Thanks for the Ledwinka headsup. Announced at the 1976 Paris Salon, the revised version – identifiable by its more orthodox quad-headlamp front end and a chunky rear spoiler – packed an all-alloy V6 engine in its shapely tail. L’Alpine A110 CUP face à la concurrence en TTE . Enregistrée par Gentlecar. They are an amazing little car, under appreciated and understood. I recall a couple of A310s that used to do the Dutton Grand Prix rally back in the late 80s/early 90s, among the multitudes of more usual suspects. The leather looks boring in comparison. Sometime around 1967, Michel Béligond joined Jean Rédélé and Roger Prieur in Dieppe, and they started working together on the new Alpine model at Rédélé’s kitchen table. Nicely done. It’s not clear whether one or two examples were produced – the red Geneva Show car apparently housed a V6 – and this audacious shape ended up being test driven by a French motoring journalist anticipating the helmet-chic of Daft Punk before the Meyrignac Alpine found its way into long term storage. Emboldened by their burgeoning success, starting in 1963 Alpine entered the sports prototype field with the M63 (above), M64 and M65 in their respective years. I can`t possibly add anything new to the comments, so I`ll just give this article an A+. Steering was rack and pinion (2.5 turns lock to lock) and braking was discs all round. The Alpine-Renault A110 1800 is a legendary automobile. Il s'agit d'une vidéo à bord d'une A310 V6 d'origine roulant à l'E85. With greater mass hanging behind the back axle line than in its petite sister, the A310 is more pendulous in its handling, but the steering is superb, the performance exhilarating and, although the Douvrin V6 is hardly the world’s most sonorous powerplant, the overall driving experience is supremely addictive. As with the creations out of Stuttgart, its proportioning is not compromised by the rear engine location but actually enhanced by the successfully-met challenge it presented its authors. p.s. A few days after the joint venture was signed, and just before the July 14 Independence Day celebrations, the first three examples of the Alpine A106 were presented in the courtyard of Renault’s Boulogne Billancourt headquarters, proudly rendered in the French tricouleurs. I prefer the 15’s glasshouse, and thank goodness they both got the loop bumper. I’ve always liked the A110, and was a huge fan of the GTA/610 styling and while I don’t dislike the A310 it never really did that much for me. Chief among the technical developments was a revised double-wishbone rear suspension set-up. Pierre Dreyfus was most impressed with the display. Présentation de la Renault 5 Turbo : projet année 1977, petit moteur Cléon-Fonte, gros turbo, 160 ch. S’il n’est pas exclu un engagement en Alpine Elf Europa CUP, le team, prépare surtout sa saison en Championnat TTE. One interesting point about the Stratos and Renault. Formed originally for fans of the V6 Renault Alpines including the Alpine GTA V6 GT, GTA V6 Turbo, GTA Le Mans and A610. I had seen the similarities, although the front ends are rather different. Unfortunately it has only been published in French and I have not been able to access a copy. En parallèle, la Régie fait bénéficier Alpine du contrat de préconisation signé avec Elf ce qui permet de débloquer un budget de compétition complémentaire, tandis que Philippe Lamirault ouvre le réseau des concessionnaires Renault à la diffusion des A110 puis A310. I had those mirrors installed on my 1971 Alfa Romeo due to the driving laws in Texas, requiring the deaf drivers to have both left and right external mirrors. But it’s a bit more complex than that. There is more to that story than meets the eye; if it weren’t for a very snowy 1978 Rallye de Monte-Carlo, we likely would have never seen such a beast. Using A110s, the Alpine team won the World Rally Championship in 1971, and the car continued to notch up national titles for its various drivers through to 1975.”. A significant contribution made quietly in deference to the ailing Béligond, perhaps. After completing studies in business and economics in 1946, Jean found himself at Renault on a work placement program where he distinguished himself with his strategic input, catching the eye of CEO Pierre Dreyfus. http://vauxpedianet.uk2sitebuilder.com/vauxhall-93000—hp-firenza. It featured a new 3 litre V8 engine by Amédée Gordini and finished four of its five entries but earned no podiums. For one, the A110 was primarily conceived as a tarmac rally terror, with the gift of high traction via it’s rear engine layout. With the A110 gone, the A310 was initially the steed of choice for Renault’s gravel track ambitions. It had been based on his 1962 proposal for Lea Francis (bottom left), and his 1966 Bond Equipe 2 litre GT (with in-house detailing by Bond) was another example of this Fiore language. Find your next car in our classifieds – the classic of your dreams could be just a click away... Dieppe diamonds: Alpine A110, A310 and GTA, Why this charming Moretti 2300S leaves us wanting more, Cracking Christmas gift subscription offers, Don’t buy that, buy this: Rolls-Royce Corniche vs Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupé, Why going back to the future can be so illuminating, Why the allure of the Countach is much more than skin deep, Video: The Classic & Sports Car Show 2018 highlights. The 310 is a very out there car, but it’s like the Citroen SM, there’s something about it that clicks together and the result manages to be unique as well as good looking and memorable. Pay for a Porsche badge if you will, but you’ll be missing out on a superb sports car and transcontinental express. As the top image by ‘Manfred’ at Forum Alpine Renault shows, the car was to receive an underbody shroud. The Alpine A310 was a sports car with a rear-mounted engine and was initially powered by a four cylinder 1.6 L sourced Renault 17 TS/Gordini engine. The Alpine A310 was a sports car with a rear-mounted engine and was initially powered by a four-cylinder 1.6 L sourced Renault 17 TS/Gordini engine. The A310 is yet another example of a car that I read about as a child (in the UK-sourced “World of Automobiles” encyclopedia) and immediately fell in love with. The Alpine A310 was a sports car with a rear-mounted engine and was initially powered by a four cylinder 1.6 L sourced Renault 17 TS/Gordini engine. A facelift to become the aggressive wide-body Le Mans in 1990 further improved the dynamics, while in 1992 the car was heavily reworked to become the A610 – the last model to sport the Alpine name. The A310 always struck me as a neat car, sort of a cross-pollenization between a Lotus Europa and TVR Tasmin and now, after reading the background on the design, I understand why. The ‘Black Knight’ (top) was the first attempt at a slant nose, and the ‘Daytona’ (based on stylist Wayne Cherry’s Ferrari Daytona) came soon after. 27 sept. 2017 - Cette épingle a été découverte par Seiichiro Aizawa. The GTA’s structure was said to offer four times the torsional rigidity of the average family hatchback of its day. I saw it yesterday and then held off reading it, today I happened to take pix of a Maserati Bora and when I got home saw the post again while thinking the A310 does look somewhat Bora-ish, interesting to see the same conclusion in the text. And Renault has recently made efforts to revive it in the real world. The massive rear transmission ‘pyramid’ intruded significantly on the +2 seating, though it was not as cramped as some competitors. Il est ouvert aux propriétaires de véhicules de la marque, qu’il s’agisse de berlinettes de collection, d’A310, A610, GTA ou de la nouvelle A110 Première Edition. It must have taken extensive research to write and to obtain all that photographic history. The silver Alpine A310 prototype was first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1971. Search - Personal photo gallery of Matthijs van Wageningen with the following categories; Aviation (Airshows), Animals (Zoo), (special) Events and Holidays. The capital outlay was significant for this largely independent carmaker, and the A310 had been rushed into production to help offset costs. In August 1973, the NACA ducts on the front wings were moved forward from their placement near the windscreen towards the leading edge of the car. On the other hand I get all googly-eyed over old Alfa Spiders and Lancia Fulvia’s so maybe I like the 60’s and the 80’s…Although 70’s VW and Ford of Europe styling does it for me as well so who knows…. Anyway, another brilliant and informative read, thanks for taking the time to do this one, that was one rare find well worthy of a write-up! Only 21 examples were made. Stage de pilotage avec location d'une Alpine A110; Accueil et briefing de pilotage, 2 tours de reconnaissance (circuit de 2,4 km), de 2 à 6 tours sur circuit au volant avec moniteur de pilotage en passager, remise de votre diplôme. Though not nearly as pretty as the Michelotti efforts, the carrosserie had successfully built their little coupe in fibreglass. A couple of years ago, fellow carspotter AVL wanted to show me an exotic he had found in Melbourne’s backstreets. It’s as good as anything I’ve ever read back in Automobile Quarterly’s heyday. The spectacle of the diminutive blue cars sideways in the snow became as emblematic for the French as the dominance of Matra at Le Mans in the early ’70s. It would be Jean Rédélé’s last commission for Giovanni Michelotti. He travelled to Italy and engaged the emerging stylist Giovanni Michelotti. Most were VF models, but I don’t think the engines received any further tuning. When I was offered the chance to review one I leapt at it.1: Comparison with Avant Slot's A310Teamslot's A310 follows Avant Slot's similar offering. It was a masterful shape, drawing much from the prevailing origami language. “the mid-rear engined R5 turbo came about as a Stratos-beating suggestion from Bertone, who themselves had created the Stratos.”. Looking forward to that A110 CC…. The GTA was the first Alpine-Renault to be marketed in the UK yet, from 1986 to ’92, a meagre 582 were built with right-hand drive, making it a rare sight on British roads. But that still doesn’t answer how Trevor Fiore came to be working on the A310 in the first place. Le dessin des jantes évoque l’un de ceux en vogue sur l’A110 et l’A310 dans les années soixante-dix. The original 1971 car was never wind tunnel tested and suffered from both front end lift and rear instability and one of my jobs for the 1976 model was to counter these problems with small aerodynamic additions.’. Ghia was the strong favourite, and their first effort built by Frua (bottom left) would eventually become the Renault Floride – though not without its own complications. The A310 showed that Alpine might have been in the ’70s but they were looking to the future. You did a great job of explaining how Porsche introducing a 6 caused competitors to up their game. The Alpine A110 succeeded the earlier A108. Humbug! Visitor Rating: 74 Votes. Juchet had joined Renault in 1958 as an aerodynamics engineer and by 1962 had established himself as one of their stylists. One item in the pictures above jumped out: Tornado mirrors. The c-pillars are admittedly a handicap for the driver’s field of vision, but the shape is not entirely impractical. D’après Louis Chazel, l’Alpine A110 CUP est une excellente base de développement. Overcome the initial turbo lag and the Alpine leaps towards the horizon at an astonishing rate, while phenomenal grip means that bends are dispatched with uncanny ease. The A310 received the same backbone chassis as the A110, although it had wishbone and coilover suspension on all corners compared with the A110’s swing-arm rear. During the previous year’s Monte Carlo Rally all the works cars had retired with damaged rear suspension caused by heavy lumps of ice being frozen between the wheel spokes and so putting the wheels out of balance. However Meyrignac blanched at the costs of pollution compliance (despite the fact that the Alpine engine already complied) so the project was abandoned. These cars also had a metal plate inserted in the cabin roof for the same reason, as well as serving as a Faraday cage. The car was powered by a succession of Renault engines. Despite the fact that the Michelotti car was not favoured, Rédélé rather sneakily ordered a two-seater cabriolet prototype from Michelotti/Allemano based on the coupe as the Renault project progressed. Throughout this piece I have used the lower numbers quoted, but I’m not sure they are all to the same standards and are really only presented here for comparative purposes. Et plus tard d’autres véhicules suivront. But it does indicate an expectation that the Alpine visual language might have to move on. I was vaguely aware of the Alpine cars, but learned a lot this morning! But before it could race, a business opportunity arose for Rédélé. I’ll be honest, French cars have often left me cold, they just don’t look interesting and the ones that are more out there, tend to be a mish mash of design choices that fails to find a coherent shape. From 1967, Renault’s racing efforts were officially represented by Alpine. I always had a soft spot for the A310, I thought it was a cool looking car. But despite this, the A310 V6 was Alpine’s greatest sales success. The latter failing would be addressed five years into the A310’s lifetime, finally establishing the model as the 911 rival that it had always purported to be. The Renault Owners’ Club is the only UK club to have been around for every Alpine launch. Compounding the issue is another highly esteemed French brand owned by Renault – Gordini. If any of the CCommentariat have read this book, I would greatly appreciate their input. Here is the first verifiable instance of Fiore’s involvement with the Alpine. Rédélé’s global ambitions resulted in thousands of licence-built A110 models from Interlagos in Brazil, FASA in Spain, Dinalpin in Mexico as well as 50 examples of the Bulgaralpine produced in Bulgaria. Only one question comes to mind: is the A310’s nose possibly the inspiration for the Vauxhall Firenza “droop snoot” introduced in 1973? It would win the first three competitions it entered and was apparently soon sold off, no doubt at a nice profit given its auspicious provenance. Writing in Autosport, an excited John Bolster described the roadholding as being so outstanding that it defied all rational explanation. Wow Don, when I clicked the post I wasn’t prepared for how detailed and in-depth it would go into all of Alpine’s history, a fantastic read! After the tragic circumstances of the 1955 24 Heures du Mans when 83 spectators had been killed, Béligond was commissioned to apply a softer, less combative and more celebratory tone into their famed posters – a task he accomplished into the early 1960s. Like you,m Id go for the 4 cylinder, on thew basis of the front and presentation of the lights, and the GTA is now looking a bit too 90s for me. It was much closer to the A310, but bearing a new body particularly at the rear. In 1971, a joint venture was established between Peugeot, Renault and Volvo for a large (in European terms) engine built at Douvrin in Northern France to be used primarily in each manufacturer’s senior saloon. Jim Klein touched on it, but looking at the later & hairier versions of the A310 reminded me of the Countach that also grew scoops and bulges as it developed. Owners of the Alpine A110, Alpine A310, Renault 5 Alpine, 5 Turbo 1 & 2, Spider, Clio V6 and all Turbo & Renaultsport vehicles built at the former Alpine factory in Dieppe are welcome and will find photographs, literature and information relating to their cars. Le Ceerta vous propose différentes activités sur ces circuits à issoire : Pilotage Auto et moto, formation sécurité routière, évènementiel d'entreprise et location des circuits terre et asphalte It was very similar to the first, although it had lost its moustache and had gained a cleaner shoulder-line and tighter greenhouse. That same year the road cars were badged ‘Alpine Renault’ and were now available through the authorised Renault dealer network. , Thanks Aaron. Legal apparently took Béligond’s rounded shapes and made them sharper, with more crisply defined junctures and surfaces. Only 27 Boulogne were built. Due to the onerous shipping costs Rédélé’s beautiful little aluminium coupe would remain stateside. It borrowed some components from other vehicles such as the rack and pinion steering, five-speed gearbox, and … Alpine Renault continued to develop their range of models all through the 1980s. L'école de pilotage, HMC Lohéac, leader de l'événementiel à Lohéac. It was during this period that he, Béligond, or the both of them together came to the early 1968 shape in Dieppe. Your comprehensive high-quality articles are like a work of art. Autocar reckoned that ‘for the first time Renault has a powerful weapon to pitch against Porsche’. I’d love to run across one curbside one day–a man can dream, right? It was over 200 kgs heavier than the A110, and with both using the same engine it was the two seater that continued to excel. During the most of 1970s and early 1980s, many small manufacturers of exotic cars often sift through the components made by OEM suppliers to peruse on their cars, i.e. It was based out of Alpine’s Val Druel facilities and they soon scored big, with outright victory at the 1978 24 Heures du Mans in an Alpine A442B, earning themselves a tow down the Champs Elysees. No more. Though I do also find the original V6 quite beautiful, and a better performer. Grand Prix; Results and Standings The spotlights were now placed under the bumper beneath the turning signals. I do remember occasionally seeing a couple of TVR’s (Grantura series 3 with the Cortina tail lights & Vixen) that would park out the front of Maddock’s garage in High St – if people have not seen them in person they really can’t understand how small they are! The A310 is deceptively quick – it goes like stink, in fact – yet it’s wonderfully cosseting. L'Autobrocante Festival de Lohéac 2017 célébrait les 40 ans de l'Alpine A310 V6 - News d'Anciennes. It got people thinking Small could be More. This appears to be more than a coincidence. A good mate through high school was the son of the local Renault (And Peugeot/Daihatsu/Subaru) dealer, so I was brainwashed a little. Bizzarrini 5300GT Strada. Accounts describe his condition during the development of the new Alpine as one of increasing paralysis before he was to die in 1973. There was no RHD version, which meant the UK and far-flung Australia missed out. I always preferred the three-slot version of the smooth wheel, the four-slot style tended to look static.’. Or as the French say: Excellent ! This is what all junior supercars should be like. I really can’t see the Alpine riding to any success in the US on the back of the Dauphine. Yet for all the magic, I’m not sure that I’d want to drive any great distance in the A110. I couldn’t fit this pic in the story, but any excuse…. Rédélé would later insist that Michelotti was not involved with this emerging Berlinette shape, and he was technically correct. Alpine A110, Eric and his A310 4 cylinders recently released from prototyping workshops, and of course Antony, our talented photographer who accompanied us to shoot. Designated the VC model, it had a 1,798cc engine that was unfortunately never an option for the road cars. Thanks to Crispin Forster; Andrew Jones; Paul Fraser-Sage: Alpine Renault Restoration, Renault’s lively 5s: Gordini Turbo and Turbo 2 on track, Bargain ’50s greats: Healey vs Morgan vs TR2, Malcolm Thorne is a contributor to – and former Deputy Editor of – Classic & Sports Car. My favorite was the series I: when i saw the photos of the monteverdi above i was immediately reminded of the detomaso mangusta. The RAG coupe’s shape had sprung directly from Juchet’s hand, and a full size prototype was constructed before the project was abruptly cancelled in 1966. I’ve owned an A110 for 29 years and in that time read many Alpine articles but some of the history and photos in your article were new information to me. The wheelbase was the same as outgoing GT4 (and recently lengthened Porsche 911) at 89.4” (2,270mm), although the Alpine was a whopping 9” lower than the Porsche in height. Alpine a déjà tenté ce créneau : avec la A310 et la A610... on ne peut pas dire que cela a été un franc succès 3/ l’actuel la A110 actuel est une auto TRES réussis, tous les journalistes le disent, tous mes amis testeurs / essayeurs me l'on confirmait Great find. Though the Alpine name is held in high esteem by aficionados, there is limited global understanding of what it stands for. Your email address will not be published. Which brings me onto the A310. A legend had been born. Don also mentioned Juchet’s R15 and R17. ? Great articale, I attaché a picture of my 76 VG . From there, Alpine graduated to the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), competing once again on the world stage. A dozen A310s were prepared for competition with front wheel arch flares and a widened rear flank that included most of the c-pillar to also allow for larger air intakes. It’s listed in the 1977 World Cars catalogue alongside the V6 but when you compare the prices listed; 76,900 Francs for the 95 hp A310 TX, and 77,900 Francs for the 150 hp A310 V6, the senior model seems like a bargain. Few people on this side of the Channel may know what it is, but don’t let that put you off. It was also intended for a two-door model to complement the four-door saloon in the Renault lineup. Ce week-end, on était aussi en Bretagne pour l'Autobrocante Festival de Lohéac 2017, un événement varié et qui plaira à tous ! Whereas the A310’s styling had been a radical leap forward compared to the A110, the third generation of our triumvirate – the GTA – was very much a case of subtle evolution. The Alpine A310 was a sports car with a rear-mounted engine and was initially powered by a four cylinder 1.6 L sourced Renault 17 TS/Gordini engine. Recently caught this one in the backstreets of one of the bayside suburbs. Having come close to winning the Rallye Monte-Carlo in 1950 and ’51, he took a strong class win on the ’52 Mille Miglia – a feat that he would repeat in 1953 and ’54. That’s extremely flattering Paul. Le moteur quatre cylindres de 1,8 litre demeure, mais la pression de suralimentation du turbocompresseur est augmentée de 0,4 bar pour offrir de meilleures performances. America didn’t get the GTA because of the Maserati version of the K-Car? After such a spectacular showing on the Monte, it is not hard to see why they would delve further; these cars maybe shot out 150 horsepower max in rally tune. It may be a case like the Lotus Espirit where you think you need the bigger V8 engine until you finally get one and then not so much. 8. Factory-supplied images suggest this coincides with the headlight mountings changing from body colour to black, but given the hand-assembled nature of these cars that may have been an option.