Alpine A110

Alpine A110
Overview
Manufacturer	Alpine
Production	1961–77
Designer	Giovanni Michelotti[1][2]
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car
Body style	2-door Berlinette
Layout	RR layout
Powertrain
Engine	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	5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,271 mm (89.4 in)
Length	4,050 mm (159 in)
Width	1,500 mm (59 in)
Curb weight	706 kg (1,556 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Alpine A108
Successor	Alpine A310

The Alpine A110 was a sports car produced by the French manufacturer Alpine from 1961 to 1977. The car was styled as a "Berlinette", which in the post-WWII era refers to a small enclosed two-door Berline.^[3] The Alpine A110 succeeded the earlier A108. The car was powered by a succession of Renault engines.

History

Launched in 1961 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 difference with the A108 coupé was restyled 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. The A110 was originally offered with 1.1 L R8 Major or R8 Gordini engines. The Gordini engine delivered 95 hp (71 kW) SAE at 6,500 rpm.

A110 GT4

The A110 achieved most of its fame in the early 1970s as a successful rally car. After winning several rallies in France in the late 1960s with cast-iron R8 Gordini Cléon-Fonte engines the car was fitted with the aluminium-block Cléon-Alu from the Renault 16 TS. With two two-venturi Weber 45 carburetors, the TS engine delivered 125 hp (93 kW) DIN at 6,000 rpm. This allowed the production 1600S to reach a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph). The long-wheelbase Alpine A108 2+2 Coupé ended its run and was replaced with a new, restyled 2+2 based on A110 engines and mechanicals called the A110 GT4.

The car achieved international fame during the 1970–1972 seasons competing in the newly created International Championship for Manufacturers, winning several events around Europe, earning a reputation as one of the strongest rally cars of its time. Notable performances from the car included a victory in the 1971 Monte Carlo Rally with Swedish driver Ove Andersson.

With the buy-out of Alpine by Renault complete, the International Championship was replaced by the World Rally Championship for 1973, at which time Renault elected to compete 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 1973 Monte Carlo Rally) the A110 won most races where the works team was entered, making Alpine the first World Rally Champion. Later competition-spec A110s received engines of up to 1.8 litres.

Alpine A110 1600SX

As well as being built at Alpine's own Dieppe factory, versions of the A110 were built under license by various other vehicle manufacturers around the world. From 1965 to 1974 the car was produced in Mexico under the name "Dinalpin" by Diesel Nacional (DINA), who also produced Renault vehicles. From 1967 to 1969 the A110 was also produced in Bulgaria under the name "Bulgaralpine" by a partnership formed between SPC Metalhim and ETO Bulet, whose collaboration also resulted in the production of the Bulgarrenault.

In 1974 the mid-engined Lancia Stratos, the first car designed specifically for rally racing, was operational and homologated. At the same time it was obvious that the rear-engined A110 was nearing the limits of its development potential. The adoption of fuel injection brought no performance increase. On some cars, a DOHC 16-valve head was fitted to the engine, but it 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. The A110 is still seen in events such as Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique.

In 2012, to mark the 50th anniversary of the A110, Renault produced a concept car called the A110-50.

Engines

The A110 was fitted with a variety of powerplants over its life. Engines used on production cars included the following:

Specifications A110 Berlinette (1966)

Engine
Engine: Renault 1108 cc Straight-4
Power output: 98 hp SAE (73 kW) gross; compression ratio 9.6

Chassis/Body
Overall length: 3,851 mm (151.6 in)
Overall width: 1,471 mm (57.9 in)
Height: 1,130 mm (44 in)
Turning circle: 9,246 mm (364.0 in)
Wheelbase: 2,099 mm (82.6 in)
Front track: 1,250 mm (49 in)
Rear track: 1,219 mm (48.0 in)
Empty weight: 544 kg (1,199 lb)

Performance Top speed: 219 km/h (136 mph)

Unique characteristics: due to the rear-mounted engine there was no air-intake grille on the front of the body. Cooling air was scooped from below the chassis and exhausted through near-horizontal openings on the rear fenders above and aft of the rear wheels.^[6]

Specifications A110 1600S (1970–73)

Engine
Engine: Renault 1565 cc Straight-4
Power Output: 138 hp SAE (103 kW) gross (125 PS DIN (93 kW))

Transmission
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual

Chassis/Body
Chassis: Steel backbone
Body Panels: Fiberglass
Weight: 620 kg (1,370 lb)
Length: 4,039 mm (159.0 in)
Width: 1,501 mm (59.1 in)
Wheelbase: 2,271 mm (89.4 in)
Track (Front/Rear): 1,219 mm (48.0 in) / 1,250 mm (49 in)

Performance
Top speed: 210 km/h (130 mph)

WRC Victories

No.	Event	Season	Driver	Co-driver
1	42ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo	1973	Jean-Claude Andruet	Michèle 'Biche' Petit
2	7º TAP Rallye de Portugal	1973	Jean-Luc Thérier	Jacques Jaubert
3	16ème Rallye du Maroc	1973	Bernard Darniche	Alain Mahé
4	21st Acropolis Rally	1973	Jean-Luc Thérier	Christian Delferrier
5	15º Rallye Sanremo	1973	Jean-Luc Thérier	Jacques Jaubert
6	17ème Tour de Corse	1973	Jean-Pierre Nicolas	Michel Vial

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alpine A110.

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