December 2015 Classic&SportsCar 127A110BERLINETTE1300G
Sold/numberbuilt1963-’77/8505(all)
Constructiontubularsteelbackbone
chassis,glassfibrebody
Engineiron-block,alloy-head,ohv 1255cc
‘four’, twin Weber 40DCOEcarburettors
Max po wer105bhp@6750rpm(SAE)
Max torque86lb ft@5000rpm(SAE)
Transmissionfour-speedmanual,RWD
Suspensionindependentall round,at
frontby doublewishbones,coil springs
rearswingaxles,trailingradius arms;
anti-rollbars, telescopicdampersf/r
Steeringrack and pinion
Brakesdiscs,with servo
Length12ft 7^1 / 2 in (3850mm)Width4ft
9in (1450mm)Height3ft 8^1 / 2 in (1130mm)
Wheelbase6ft 10^3 / 4 in (2100mm)
Weight1202lb(545kg)
0-60mph7 secs (est)
Top speed128mphMpg 28
PricenewFFr26,900Now£50-100k+1973 for the final four yearsof A110production.
Themostradicaldeparturewas the A310’s
MichelBeligond-styledbody, its aggressively
angularoutlineat onceleavingthe sensual’60s
curvesof the A110lookingantediluvian.During
the car’s development,aerodynamicistMarcel
Huberthad paid muchattentionto detail,and
neat touchesincludedthe adoptionof a distinc-
tive nosewithsix Cibiéheadlampsnestling
CitroënSM-stylebehindglasscovers.
The A310lookedas if it had beenconceived
with nightrally stagesin mind,althoughit would
neverdominatethe sportin the sameway as its
forebearhad done.Its mostnotableresultswere
abraceof thirdson the To ur de Corse(in ’74 and
’76) plus the French Rally Championship title in
’77, as Renault– whichhad takena 55%stakein
Alpinein 1973– shiftedthe Dieppecompany’s
competitionfocustowardsLe Mans.Cabinetmaker
Forster has owned
his A110for two
years, havingspent
morethan five
searchingfor the
right example.“I fell
for the marque,” he
says, “afterseeing
an A110at the
roadsidein the Jura,
in France.I looked at several, but theywere
all terrible.Ieventuallyfoundthis one inThe
Netherlands,and knew immediatelythat it
was what I’d been lookingfor –the owner
had obviouslylooked after it properly.”
LondonerForster uses the Alpineseveral
timesaweek, and has been as farafieldas
the Pyrénées:“My most memorable drive
was bringingthe car back in torrentialrain
at night whenI’d just boughtit.”
He adds:“I’venot raced it to date, but I’m
planningto takeit hillclimbingnext season.”THE OWNER
CrispinForster
Unsurprisingly, the A110beganscoringsome
impressivecompetitionresults,cementingits
immortalityeightyearsinto its careerwitha
1-2-3on the RallyeMonte-Carloin 1971– an
ach iev eme nt tha t would be rep eat ed two yea rs
later. The spectacleof the diminutiveblue cars
sidewaysin the snowbecameas emblematicfor
the Frenchas the dominanceof Matraat Le
Mansin the early’70s. A legendhad beenborn.
Keento capitaliseon that historicvictory, a
new model– the A310– was hurriedlylaunched
at the GenevaSalonin 1971.Developmentwork
had begunin ’68 and, with aspaciousnew factory
to pay for, the ever-astuteRédéléhad madethe
decisionto pitchthe car furtherupmarketwhere
greaterprofitswereto be had. Far frombeinga
directreplacementfor the A110,the A310would
complementit and the two modelswouldbe
offeredalongsideeach otheruntil1977.
Pitchedsquarelyat the Porsche911, the A310
wouldfollowestablishedAlpinepractice,
employingthe familiarsteelbackbonebeneath
its glassfibrebody. Powerwouldcomefroma
Renault17 four-pot slungbehindthe sameR12
Gordinitransaxleusedin the A110.Chief
amongthe technicaldevelopmentswas arevised
double-wishbonerear suspensionset-up.Aimed
at improvingrefinementwithoutdamagingthe
Berlinette’s legendarycorneringability, the
improvedrear end wouldalso be adoptedin‘THE A110CEMENTED
ITS IMMORTALITYWITH
A1-2-3ONTHE RALLYE
MONTE-CARLOIN 1971’
Clockwise:purposeful
cabinis quiteroomy;A110
has longertail than A108;
coolingduct on rear wing;
tunedGordiniengine;
flying‘A’ motifon alloys