Alpine A110
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Alpine A110 | |
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| Manufacturer | Alpine |
| Parent company | Renault |
| Production | 1961-1973 |
| Predecessor | Alpine A108 |
| Successor | Alpine A310 |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style(s) | 2-door coupé |
| Layout | RR layout |
| Engine(s) | 1.1 L, 1.2 L, and 1.3 L R8 Major/Gordini I4 1.5 L Lotus Europa I4 1.3 L and 1.6 L Renault I4 |
| Transmission(s) | 5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | (2.271 m) 89.4 in |
| Length | (4.05 m) 159 in |
| Width | (1.50 m) 59.1 in |
| Curb weight | 806 kg (1,777 lb) |
The Alpine A110 also known as the "Berlinette" was a sports car produced by the French manufacturer Alpine from 1961 to 1977. The A110 was powered by various Renault engines.
The Alpine A110 was introduced in 1961 as an evolution of the A108. Like other road-going Alpines the A110 made heavy use of mass-produced Renault parts. But while the A108 was designed around Dauphine components, the A110 was updated to use R8 parts. Like the A108 available first as a cabriolet and later as a Coupé, the A110 was delivered first with "Berlinetta" bodyworks and then as a cabriolet. The main visible difference with the A108 Coupé was a restyling of the rear body to fit the bigger engines, and that gave the car a more aggressive look. Like the A108, the A110 featured a steel backbone chassis with fiberglass body. This design was influenced by the Lotus Elan, Colin Chapman being a major source of inspiration for Alpine designers at that time. The A110 was originally available with 1.1 L R8 Major or R8 Gordini engines. The Gordini engine delivered 95 hp SAE at 6500 rpm.
The A110 achieved most of its fame in the early 1970s as a victorious rally car. After winning several rallies in France in the late 1960s with iron-cast R8 Gordini engines the car was fitted with the aluminium block Renault 16 TS engine. With two dual chamber Weber 45 carburetors the new engine was able to deliver 125 hp DIN at 6000 rpm. This allowed the production 1600S to reach a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph).
The car reached international fame during the 1970-1972 seasons competing in the newly created "International rally championship for makers", winning several events around Europe and became considered to be one of the strongest rally cars of its time. Among notable performances the car won the 1971 Monte-Carlo Rally with Swedish driver Ove Andersson.
Then in 1973, when the buy-out of Alpine by Renault was complete the International championship was replaced by a new "World rally championship for makers". Renault decided to compete in the World championship with the A110. With a team featuring Bernard Darniche, Jean-Pierre Nicolas and Jean-Luc Thérier as permanent drivers and "guest stars" like Jean-Claude Andruet (who won the Monte-Carlo that year) the A110 won most races where the works team was entered, making Alpine first rally World champion.
As well as being built at Alpine's Dieppe factory, A110 models were constructed by various other vehicle manufacturers around the world. The Alpine A110 was produced in Brazil under the name Interlagos; a young driver named Emerson Fittipaldi drove one in several races. The Alpine A110 was produced in Mexico under the name Dinalpin, from 1965 to 1974, by Diesel Nacional (DINA), which also produced the Renault vehicles. The Alpine A110 was also produced in Bulgaria under the name Bulgaralpine, from 1967 to 1969, by a cooperative formed between SPC Metalhim and ETO Bulet, whose collaboration also resulted in the production of the Bulgarrenault.
In 1974 the Lancia Stratos, the first car designed from scratch for rally racing, was operational and homologated. At the same time, it was obvious that the A110 had reached the end of its development. Attempts to use fuel injection brought no performance increase. On some cars a DOHC 16-valve head was fitted to the engine but proved unreliable. Chassis modification like the use of an A310 double wishbone rear suspension, homologated with the A110 1600SC, also failed to increase performance. On the international stage the Stratos proved to be the "ultimate weapon" making the A110 as well as many other rally cars soon obsolete.
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[edit] Engines
The A110 was fitted with various powerplants. Here is a list of the engines used on production cars:
| Name | Year | Model | Description | Type | Displacement | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A110 1100 "70" | 1964-1969 | 1000 VA | R8 Major | type 688 | 1108 cc | 66 hp SAE |
| A110 1100 "100" | 1965-1968 | 1100 VB | R8 Gordini | type 804 | 1108 cc | 95 hp SAE |
| A110 1300 S | 1965-1971 | 1300 VB | tuned R8 Gordini | type 804 | 1296 cc | 120 hp SAE |
| A110 1300 G | 1967-1971 | 1300 VA | stock R8 Gordini 1300 | type 812 | 1255 cc | 105 hp SAE |
| A110 1500 | 1967-1968 | stock Lotus Europa engine: R16 block | 1470 cc | 82 hp SAE | ||
| A110 1600 | 1969-1970 | 1600 VA | stock R16 TS | 1565 cc | 92 hp SAE | |
| A110 1300 V85 | 1969-1976 | 1300 VC | R12TS | 1289 cc | 81 hp SAE (68 hp DIN) | |
| A110 1600S | 1970-1973 | 1600 VB | tuned R16 TS | 1565 cc | 138 hp SAE (125 hp DIN) | |
| A110 1600S | 1973-1975 | 1600 VC, SC | R17 TS | 1605 cc | 140ch SAE (126ch DIN) | |
| A110 1600S SI | 1974-1975 | 1600 VD | R17 TS with fuel injection | 1605 cc | 140ch SAE (127ch DIN) | |
| A110 1600S SX | 1976-1978 | stock R16 TX | type 843 | 1647 cc | 93 hp DIN |
[edit] Production Numbers
BERLINETTES BUILT IN FRANCE
956cc "1000" from 1963 to 1965 (A110-950)
1108cc "80" and "85" from 1962 to 1966 (A110-1100)
1108cc "1100", "Standard" & "70" from 1964 to '69 (A110-1100)
1108cc "100" from 1965 to 1967 (A110-1100)
1296cc "1300", "1300 SUPER" & "1300 S" from 1966-71 (1300 VB)
1255cc "1300" and "1300 G" from 1967 to 1971 (1300 VA)
1470cc "1500" from 1967 to 1968 (A110-1500)
1565cc "1600" from 1969 to 1970 (1600 VA)
1565cc "1600 S" from 1969 to 1973 (1600 VB)
1289cc "85" and "1300" from 1970 to 1976 (1300VC)
1605cc "1600 S" from 1973 to 1974 (1600 VC)
In 1974 the rear suspension of the 1600 was changed from swing axles to the double wishbone configuration of the A310; the number of wheel nuts changed from 3 for the original swing axle cars to 4. The door handles were replaced by push buttons and a de-mountable rear panel provided easier access for engine/gearbox removal on all cars built from this date.
1605cc "1600 SC" and "1600 SI" from 1974 to 1975 (1600 VD)
1647cc "1600 SX" from 1976 to 1977 (1600 VH)
BERLINETTES BUILT IN OTHER COUNTRIES
Willys-Overland built about 1500 845cc and 998cc A108 Berlinettes and 956cc and 1108cc A110 Berlinettes in Brazil from 1962 to 1966, badged "INTERLAGOS" Components for around 200 1108cc A110s were supplied by Dieppe for assembly in Bulgaria between 1968 and 1970 under the name BULGARALPINE. The DINALPIN was produced under licence in Mexico where around 300 956cc A110 Berlinettes were produced between 1964 and 1967 with about 200 1108cc variants following in the period to 1972.
SPAIN
The most prolific source of Berlinettes outside France was Spain where 1108cc, 1289cc and 1397cc A110 Berlinettes were built under licence. Spanish laws concerning local work content meant that these cars were only produced with engines at the lower end of the power scale.
The 1108cc cars were heavier than the 1108cc French "70" of the period and this weight difference is attributed popularly to the bodyshells being thicker to cope with the local road conditions. However, the Spanish "A110-1300" is actually homologated at 5kg lighter than the equivalent French-built "85".
1108cc "A110-1100" from 1967 to 1970
1289cc "A110-1300" from 1971 to 1976
1397cc "A110-1400" from 1977 to 1978
Since production of the A110 Berlinette ceased in France in July 1977 a Spanish built A110-1400 has the honour of being the last production A110 Berlinette to be built.
[edit] Specifications A110 1600S (1970-1973)
Engine
Engine: Renault 1565 cc Straight-4
Power Output: 138 hp SAE (103 kW) gross (125 PS DIN (92 kW))
Transmission
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
Chassis/Body
Chassis: Steel backbone
Body Panels: Fiberglass
Weight: 1367 lb (620 kg)
Length: 159 in (4.05 m)
Width: 59.1 in (1.50 m)
Wheelbase: 89.4 in (2.271 m)
Track (Front/Rear): 48.0 in (1219 mm) / 49.2 in (1250 mm)
Performance
Top speed: 210 km/h (130 mph)
[edit] External links
- [http://www.clubalpinerenault.org.uk www.clubalpinerenault.org.uk
Oldest established Alpine Renault Club in UK
- www.renaultalpine.co.uk : UK Renault & Alpine Owners Club and Forum
- AlpineRenault.com : Alpine A110 1600s
- AlpineRenault.com : Forum about Alpine A110
- RenaultSport's A-110 Rally Heritage
- RenaultSport's A-110 Mexican Version Called Dinalpin
- Mexican Homepage of RenaultSport's A-110 Mexican Version Called Dinalpin
- Picture of the rare Alpine 110 cabriolet (unit built in 1964)
[edit] Models
Bburago had made a kit model of this car before the company went bust.
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