Alpine A110

The Alpine A110 , also called Berlinette is a small car of French race developed by Alpine and Jean Rédélé between 1962 and 1977, which gained many races. A110 used several engines Renault.

History

Alpine A110 was introduced in 1961 with the living room of Paris like an evolution of the A108. Like the other Alpine ones planned for the road, A110 used many parts of cars of great Renault production. But whereas A108 was conceived with parts of Dauphine, A110 used parts of R8. Like A108, A110 was available in Berlinette, half-compartment sport and the Convertible. The principal difference with A108 was the back increased to be able to accommodate the new engine four Renault cylinders with 5 stages, this giving him a more aggressive style. Like A108, A110 used steel châssis-poutre with a body in Glass fiber - Polyester, and a back overhanging engine. This design was influenced by the Lotus Dash, Colin Chapman being a source of inspiration for the Alpine originators.

A110 was at the origin available with engines of R8 Major or of R8 Gordini of 1,1 L. the engine of Gordini delivered 95 ch DIN with 6 500 t/mn. After having gained several rallys in France towards end of the year 60 with the steel engines of R8 Gordini, the car was equipped with the engine to block aluminum of Renault 16. With two Carburateur S doubles rooms Weber 45 the new engine could deliver 125 ch DIN with 6 000 t/mn. This made it possible the 1600S production to reach an high speed to 210 km/h.

The car built its international repute thanks to the competition during the years 1970-1972 in the new international championship manufacturers in rally. Gaining several tests in Europe she was regarded as one of the most powerful cars of rally of her time. Among its notable victories the car gained the rally 1971 of Monte Carlo with the Swedish pilot Ove Andersson.

Between 1971 and 1973, the oil crisis and launched strikes “of the day at the following day” put at evil financially Alpine. In 1973, after the complete repurchase of Alpine by Renault, the international championship was replaced by new a Championnat of the world of the rallys for manufacturers. Renault decided to take part in it with A110 and a team including/understanding the pilots Bernard Darniche, Jean-Pierre Nicolas and Jean-Luc Thérier and of the “guest stars” like Jean-Claude Andruet. A110 gained the majority of the races in which the team took part, making Alpine first world champion of rally.

A110 was produced with the Brésil under the name of Interlagos, a young driver called Emerson Fittipaldi controlled some in several races.

A110 was also produced with the Mexico of 1965 to 1974 by diesel Nacional (DINED - which also produced Renault vehicles) under the name of Dinalpin.

From 1967 to 1969, A110 Alpine was also produced in Bulgaria under the name of Bulgaralpine, by a co-operative formed between SPC Metalhim and ETO Bulet, whose collaboration also had like consequence the creation of Bulgarrenault.

In 1974 the Lancia Stratos, the first car designed upon the departure specifically for the rally, operational and was approved. At the time, it was obvious that A110 had reached the end of its development. The attempts at use of fuel injector did not bring any increase in performance. On some cars a principal valve of DOHC 16 was adapted to the engine but to the detriment of its reliability. The modification of the frame, with for example the use of a double back suspension of A310 (also approved for A110 1600SC), did not increase the performances and was been sulky by the customers, because too assagissant the car. On the international scene Stratos proved to be “the lethal weapon”, returning A110, as well as many of other cars of rally, exceeded.

Engines

A110 was been driven by various engines. Here a list of the engines used on cars of production:

Production

Berlinettes built in France

956 cm ³ " 1000" from 1963 to 1965 (A110-950)
1.108 cm ³ " 80" and " 85" from 1962 to 1966 (A110-1100)
1.108 cm ³ " 1100" , " Standard" & " 70" from 1964 to '69 (A110-1100)
1.108 cm ³ " 100" from 1965 to 1967 (A110-1100)
1.296 cm ³ " 1300" , " 1300 SUPER" & " 1300 S" from 1966-71 (1300 VB)
1.255 cm ³ " 1300" and " 1300 G" from 1967 to 1971 (1300 GO)
1.470 cm ³ " 1500" from 1967 to 1968 (A110-1500)
1.565 cm ³ " 1600" from 1969 to 1970 (1600 GO)
1.565 cm ³ " 1600 S" from 1969 to 1973 (1600 VB)
1.289 cm ³ " 85" and " 1300" from 1970 to 1976 (1300 VC)
1.605 cm ³ " 1600 S" from 1973 to 1974 (1600 VC)
1.605 cm ³ " 1600 SC" and " 1600 SI" from 1974 to 1975 (1600 VD)
1.647 cm ³ " 1600 SX" from 1976 to 1977 (1600 VH)

In 1974 the back suspension of the 1600 (oscillating halfshaft rear wheel-axle unit) was replaced by the superimposed triangles of A310; the number of nuts of wheel changed 3 for the original cars with 4. The handles of doors were replaced by push-button and a dismountable back panel provided an easier access to the driving compartment/gear box on all the cars built starting from this date.

Berlinettes built in other countries

Between 1962 and 1966, Willys-Overland built with the Brésil approximately thousand five hundreds Berlinettes A108 of 845 cm ³ and 998 cm ³ and Berlinettes A110 of 956 cm ³ and 1 108 cm ³. Components badges “Interlagos” for approximately two hundreds A110s 1 108 cm ³ were provided by Dieppe for the assembly in Bulgaria between 1968 and 1970 under the name of Bulgaralpine. Dinalpin was produced under license with the Mexico where approximately three hundred Berlinettes A110 of 956 cm ³ were produced between 1964 and 1967 with then and until 1972 approximately two hundred alternatives of 1 108 cm ³.

Berlinettes built in Spain

The most prolific source of Berlinettes out of France was the Spain where of A110 Berlinettes 1 108 cm ³, 1 289 cm ³ and 1 397 cm ³ were built under license. The Spanish laws make that these cars were only produced with engines of low power.

The cars 1 108 cm ³ produced in Spain were heavier than the 1 108 cm ³ French “70” of the same time. This difference in weight is in general allotted to the thicker bumpers to face the conditions of local roads. However, the “A110-1300” Spanish is officially lighter of 5 kg than the “85” of equivalent French manufacture.

1.108 cm ³ “A110-1100” of 1967 to 1970
1.289 cm ³ “A110-1300” of 1971 to 1976
1.397 cm ³ “A110-1400” of 1977 to 1978

The production of Berlinette A110 having ceased in France in July 1977, it is A110-1400 built in Spain which with the honor to be the last of the production Berlinette A110.

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