Alpine Renault A110, 1973
Alpine A110 I
Alpine A110 I•
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Chassis No.: 18384
Engine No.: TBA
Registration: VMR 733M
Believed to be one of the ex-Works Alpine Renault A110 | Believed To Be One Of The Ex-Wor
Introduced in 1961, the Alpine A110 (also known as the ‘Berlinette’) was produced in various forms until 1977. The A110 evolved from the A108 which used components from the Dauphine featuring a steel backbone chassis with fibreglass body; the A110 was also different in that its supply of components came largely from the Renault 8. During its production run, the A110 was powered by various Renault engines from 1100cc - 1600cc derived from those found in the R8, R12, R16 and R17 in various states of tune.
The car became successful as a rally car in the early 1970’s and was considered one of the best of that period; notably taking the first three places at the 1971 Monte Carlo Rally with Ove Anderson coming first and Thérier and Andruet following respectively. In 1973, following their Joining of Renault, Renault decided to compete in the world championship with Alpine. The A110 works cars won most races wherever entered and the Alpine dominated the Monte Carlo Rally that year with five official cars finishing in the top six. A further six victories were achieved resulting in the first World Rally Championship title.
This extraordinary piece of motor sport history has appeared for the first time for sale since it was crashed in East Africa Safari Rally in 1975 with Jean-Pierre Nicolas at the wheel with co-driver Vincent Laverne. Originally built in Dieppe for the Tour De Corse it now carries the exact livery of the Works Car as it ran in the Rally in 1973 – French Tricola Colours. The story of how it arrived here and is how you see it today is amazing and fit for Hollywood! After its accident the car ended up in a shipping container at the Caltex Service Station in Nairobi. The container went to Roger Clark Cars in Leicestershire where we believed parts were added in Crates and boxes.
Various parts were transferred but it was certainly evident that with the lightness of the shell and the colours it was in (three really) it was commented upon as being ‘very special’. Its original engine and gearbox had been removed just after the crash by the team and along with the Carte Grise, the registration, which was sent back to Paris as car ‘Destroyed’, we all know nothing like this, or any Rally Car is ever dead.
The story is this: On 6th November 1973 when the Alpine competition department put it on the road, the last two cars used in the 1973 World Championship: chassis 18384, 9026HN76 ( believed to be this car ) and 18386, 9027HN76. From the information available in the 2001 May edition of La revue de L’Automobile historique, we find they were destined for the Tour de Corse, the last event of the year, on 1-2 Dec. One car, Chassis 18384 Registered 9026 HN 76, was for Jean Luc Thérier/ Marcel Callewaert.
Alpine were already World Constructors' Champion in the first year of the WRC and Thérier needed a top 3 finish in Corsica to become unofficial World Drivers' champion, this title had yet to be officially created, he succeeded by finishing in 3rd place. The car returned to Dieppe on 5th December and then in April 1974, in accordance with the wishes of Renault for worldwide promotion, 18384 was considerably reinforced and set off to Kenya for the 1974 East African Safari to be held on the 11-15/4/1974. Thérier/Laverne running number 15 would be the team. From the start, Thérier showed his class, taking the lead.
But sliding around in what was a very muddy rally that year they found with so much wheel spin a lot of fuel was being used and in spite of the 90Litre middle tank, the berlinette ran out of fuel. Then fate took a hand, Laverne had been feeling unwell, he fell over suffering a small injury. Although incapacitated the team continued until fate arrived for a second time when Jean Luc hit a big jump, got the Alpine Airbourne and upon landing, the front Traverse broke causing chassis damage.
The car was then returned back to France and was somewhat vandalised during delays on the long return trip to Dieppe. Then, once repaired and prepared it went to a few shows on display. It was decided at the beginning of 1975, to send 9026HN76 18384 back to Kenya as a Recce car for the 1975 East African Safari Rally.
Then the sad end came to the famous Berlinette, on the 11th of March 1975 when Jean Pierre Nicolas was on reconnaissance and practicing along with co-driver Vincent Laverne, it is said as he approached a long left hander flat in third gear, a white Renault 4 came and as JP turned opposite, the driver of the Renault 4 did the same and so head on crash happened with such force on the co- drivers side it broke Vincent Laverne’s ankle and toes, JP receiving facial and shoulder damage. The broken Berlinette was quickly towed back into Nairobi, to the Caltex Service Station on the big Crossroads in Nairobi. Where it had its engine and gearbox taken out by the team and taken back to Dieppe.
This absolutely fabulous car was painstakingly put back together by the present owner, over a number of years, sourcing all the available parts from the boxes and other means.
This Alpine is superb and retains some original aspects and although the French authorities refused to allow its original registration of 9026 HN 76 to be put back on it, after its demise in Africa, there appears to be no doubt in the vendor’s mind and Jean-Pierre Nicholas’ that this is indeed the long lost ex Works car ( albeit rebuilt using new and sourced parts) and indeed many from the original factory in Dieppe have also seen the car in Dieppe France the last two years and waxed lyrical about it – true history, a true great and the one of the finest of all Alpines. Consigned by James Good.
