1971 Dinalpin A110
Details
1,289cc OHV 4-Cylinder Engine
Single Twin-Choke Weber Carburetor
95bhp at 5,300rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Ventilated Disc Brakes
Description
One of the great names in postwar French motorsport, Alpine was the brainchild of Dieppe garagiste's son, Jean Rédélé, who began in the early 1950s by developing a competition version of the popular little Renault 4CV, which won its class in the Mille Miglia three years running. By 1958 Redele was using a sophisticated tubular steel chassis, and in 1961 he introduced the A108 Berlinette Tour de France which featured a tubular backbone frame, double wishbone front suspension and a Renault Dauphine swing-axle set-up at the rear. It was developed into a potent - and often unbeatable - rally car, using a variety of Renault power units.
Penned by Giovanni Michelotti in 1963, Alpine launched the A110 Berlinette, which became the mainspring of production, its rearward weight bias giving it outstanding cornering characteristics for rallying. In 1969 A110s finished 1-2-3 in the Coupe des Alpes and came 3rd in the Monte Carlo Rally. The following year, Alpines again came 3rd in the Monte Carlo and won the Greek Acropolis and Tour de Corse rallies. Alpine driver Jean-Claude Andruet became European Rally Champion. By 1971 the marque's competition record had endeared Alpine to Renault to such an extent that they were appointed as its official competition wing. As the company grew in the mid-1960s, Alpine began contracting with automakers in Brazil, Bulgaria, Spain and Mexico to build its A110 and avoid import tariffs in those countries. Mexico's Diesel Nacional (DINA), which already produced Renault vehicles, built the A110 from 1965-74 under the name Dinalpin.