1974 Alpine A110 Berlinette

Alpine was the brainchild of Dieppe garagiste's son, Jean Redele, who in the early 1950s developed a competition version of the Renault 4CV, which won its class in the Mille Miglia three years in a row. The first Alpine soon followed, the A106, incorporating Renault 4CV running gear and a streamlined body formed from glassfibre. Equipped with a 747cc engine, it would begin a legacy of sports cars that would culminate in the mid-1990s with the A610. The year 1956 brought a new Dauphine engine, and the A106 continued to expand the company's competition heritage with a class victory at that year's Mille Miglia. By 1958, the sophistication increased further, thanks to a tubular steel chassis, and in 1961 the A108 Berlinette Tour de France was introduced, featuring a tubular backbone frame, double-wishbone front suspension, and a Renault Dauphine swing-axle set-up at the rear. Utilizing a variety of Renault engines, it was developed into a very competitive rally car.

The Alpine A110 Berlinette was unveiled in 1963 and would become the mainspring of production through 1977. Due to its hand-built construction, approximately ten examples were built per week. Alpines were also assembled by Renault's subsidiaries in Brazil, Bulgaria, Mexico and Spain.

With much of the weight positioned at the rear of the vehicle, the A110 provided superb cornering characteristics for rallying, and during the 1969 season, A110s finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd in the Coupe des Alpes and came 3rd in the Monte Carlo Rally. The following year, Alpines placed 3rd in the Monte and won the Acropolis and Tour de Corse rallies. Alpine driver Jean-Claude Andruet became the European Rally Champion.

The company's success in competition convinced Renault to appoint them as its official competition wing. 1971 through 1973 continued to be successful with two Monte Carlo Rally victories and the first World Rally Championship for Makes.

This particular Alpine-Renault A110 1600 VD was completed on February 25, 1974, and wore an appealing shade of Alpine Blue. It was powered by engine number 1173 (the same unit currently residing in its engine bay), a 1,800 cubic-centimeter Works racing engine with dual 45DCOE Weber carburetors and Devil header and exhaust. It has a five-speed manual transmission, four-joint suspension, R17 brake calipers and rotors, a front-mounted radiator, and a modern fuel cell.

This 1600 VD highly developed variant has numerous differences from other A110s, including unique front and rear lightweight fiberglass bumpers, small fender flares, large Cibie headlamps and driving lights, and the later-style Alpine logos, bodyside, and hood trim.

This Alpine is believed to have been delivered new to a French Group 1 driver, who rallied it multiple times before consigning it to street use.

Phillipe de Lespinay purchased the car in 1986, had it brought to the United States, and used it in vintage competition. In 1995, it was sold to the late Tom Mittler of South Bend, Indiana. Mr. Mittler raced the Alpine across the Midwest and beyond. After he passed away, the car was sold to a large private collection in Indiana, from whom it was acquired by the current owner in 2020.

It is believed that this is the only 1600 VD known to be in the United States.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2024