1964 Alpine M64 Sports Racer

Alpine M64 chassis number 1711 was one of just three prototypes the small French automaker built for the 1964 24 Hours of LeMans. The most successful of the three, chassis 1711, scored class victories at Le Mans and Reims in 1964. It raced successfully the following season and was then put away, hidden for nearly 50 years.

Founded by Jean Redele, Alpine was a small French manufacturer of lightweight sports cars, race cars and rally cars. The M64 was an evolution of the M63 prototype from the previous year. A mid-engine spaceframe design similar to that of the Lotus 23, the M64 was powered by a 1049cc Renault Gordini four-cylinder engine.

This 1964 Alpine M64 finished 17th overall at LeMans in June of 1964, winning both the 1300cc Prototype GT class and the highly coveted index of Thermal Efficiency. In 24 hours, drivers Roger de Lageneste and Henry Morrogh raced 2436 miles (292 laps) at an average speed of 101 miles per hour (while achieving 21 miles per gallon).

A few weeks later, M64 chassis 1711 won its class at the 12 Hours of Reims, finishing 18th overall at the high-speed road course, with the same two drivers: Roger de Lageneste and Henry Morrogh.

That summer, de Lageneste drove it in a series of hill climbs followed by the Paris 1000-kilometer race at the Montlhery circuit. In 1965, M64 chassis 1711 ran LeMans and Reims.

At the end of the 1965 season, chassis 1711 was updated by the Alpine factory to M65 bodywork, highlighted by dramatic vertical tail fins, to develop, test, and market the next-generation version that became the successful A210.

Then, sometime in 1966, chassis 1711 was stored away. It was eventually rescued by a Renault executive who arranged for a well-known Bugatti enthusiast, Jacques Ohana, to buy it. He stored the car for decades, intending to restore it.

Then, restoration began. The original M65 bodywork was repainted with stunning results, but then mechanical work wasn't completed before Mr. Ohana's death.

The current caretakers purchased it at the end of 2016 and have recently finished its restoration.