Alpine · 1963–1977

Alpine A110

The Alpine A110 is a sports car produced by French automobile manufacturer Alpine from 1963 to 1977. The car was styled as a "berlinetta", which in the post-WWII era refers to a small enclosed two-door berline, better-known as a coupé. The Alpine A110 succeeded the earlier A108. The car was powered by a succession of Renault engines. A car also named Alpine A110 was introduced in 2017. The Alpine A110 experienced a remarkable evolution in terms of power output throughout its production years. Initially, the A110 had an output of just 51 horsepower, which was adequate for a car weighing only 620 kilograms. However, by the end of the A110's production run, its power output had increased to 180 horsepower. This impressive increase in power contributed to the car's success on the rally stages of Europe. The A110's crowning achievements included 1-2-3 finishes at both the 1971 and 1973 Monte Carlo rallies, and it used Renault 16 engines at the time. In 1973, Alpine won the inaugural manufacturer's World Rally Championship, defeating competitors such as Lancia, Porsche, and Ford. However, by 1974, advances in rally competition led to a significant shift in the landscape of the sport, and the Alpine A110, which had become outdated, struggled to keep up with its rivals. As a result, sales of the A110 declined, prompting Renault to step in and purchase the company outright in an effort to save it. Despite being surpassed by newer rally cars, the A110's legacy as a successful and iconic rally car remains, and its victories in the early 1970s solidified its place in motorsport history.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Alpine A108 · Successor: Alpine A310

All Alpine A110 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

History

Alpine was founded by Jean Rédélé, a Frenchman based in Dieppe, who was an enthusiastic participant in rallying during the post-WWII era. Rédélé used Renault 4CVs and modified them for improved performance, including replacing the original three-speed gearbox with a five-speed manual transmission—a significant upgrade at the time. He also constructed new, lighter bodies to fit over the chassis and entered his modified vehicles in endurance races, including Le Mans and Sebring. Rédélé's success in rallying and continued improvement of Renault vehicles eventually gained the attention of Renault, leading to factory financial support. He formally established the Societe Anonyme des Automobiles Alpine and named the company "Alpine" as a tribute to his previous successes rallying in the Alps. Launched in 1963, the A110, like previous road-going Alpines, used many Renault parts, including engines. While its predecessor the A108 was designed around Dauphine components, the A110 was updated to use R8 parts. Unlike the A108, which was available first as a cabriolet and only later as a coupé, the A110 was available first as a berlinette and then as a cabriolet. The most obvious external departure from the A108 coupé was a restyling of the rear bodywork. Done to accommodate the A110's larger engine, this change gave the car a more aggressive look. Like the A108, the A110 featured a steel backbone chassis and a fiberglass body. Alpine was a pioneer in the use of glass-fibre body panel construction, which was valued for its lightweight properties and malleability. This innovation allowed the company to produce its first proprietary body, the A106, which was placed on top of the old Renault 4CV chassis. The reduced weight of the body contributed to the car's success in rallying. Later

Model changes

October 1962: Prototype unveiled at Paris Show. June 1963: Production A110 launched with Renault 8-derived 956cc, 51 bhp engine, R8 four-speed gearbox and all-round disc brakes. October 1963: 1108cc, 66 bhp engine from R8 Major offered in V70 model, with new all-synchro four-speed gearbox. October 1964: 1108cc, 85 bhp twin-carb R8 Gordini engine in 85 model. Five-speed ‘box optional. Competition 1100 also launched with high-compression, 1108cc, 95bhp motor. June 1965: 1300 announced with 1296cc, 115bhp R8 Gordini motor: nearly all five-speed. October 1965: 956cc and 85 models deleted; 1108cc single-carb version renamed Standard. Chromed vents appear below headlights. June 1966: Production begins at FASA-Renault in Spain (cars have drum rear brakes). October 1966: Previous 1300 renamed Super, with extra 5bhp (to 120bhp) and five-speed. New 1300 has 1255cc, 105bhp R8 Gordini motor, and 1500 launched with 1470cc, 90bhp all-alloy motor from Renault 16. Twin Cibié driving lamps added to all models, and Renault badge appears on nose for first time. September 1968: 1500 superseded by 1600, with 92bhp R16TS 1565cc engine. 100 model deleted, along with Cabriolet and GT4 coupé. October 1969: 1600S has high-compression, modified R16TS engine running twin Webers 45 giving 138bhp and 132mph through five-speed ’box. January 1970: Four-speed base model: 1300cc V85, using R12 1289cc, 81 bhp motor. Five-speed 1300 and Super become 1300G and 1300S. October 1970: 1600 axed. Front indicators move from bumpers to wings on all cars. Group 4 1600S, with extra high-compression, 172bhp motor. March 1971: Spanish 1300, with all-disc brakes. October 1971: Range rationalised to 85 and 1600S models only. May 1973: New 1600S has 1605cc, 138bhp engine from A310. Five-speed ‘box standard. October 1973

Engines

The A110 was fitted with a variety of engines between 1963 and 1977. The Alpine A110, driven by Jean-Luc Therier, became the first vehicle ever to win an international rally with a turbocharged engine with its victory at the 1972 Criterium des Cevennes rally. This achievement predated the introduction of Audi's turbocharged Ur-Quattro by eight years. Engines used on production cars included the following:

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Alpine A110
Manufacturer: Alpine
Production: 1963–1977
Designer: Giovanni Michelotti
Class: Sports car (S)
Body style: 2-door Berlinette
Layout: Rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Engine: 1.0–1.3 L Renault Cléon-Fonte I4, 1.5–1.65 L Renault Cléon-Alu I4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Wheelbase: 2099–2180 mm
Length: 3850 mm
Width: 1471–1550 mm
Kerb weight: 706 kg
Predecessor: Alpine A108
Successor: Alpine A310, Alpine A110 (2017) (spiritual)
Assembly: Dieppe, France

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q741857CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpine_A110CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1310193448 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alpine_A110.jpgCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Karrmann · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.