A superb and rare photo of the Alpine A110 during the famous Monte
Carlo Rally.
Alpine was
a French manufacturer of racing and sports cars that used rear mounted Renault
engines. Jean Rédélé, the founder of Alpine, was originally a garage proprietor
in the French town of Dieppe. He began to achieve considerable competition
success in one of the few French cars produced just after World War 2. Using
Renault 4CVs, Rédélé gained class wins in a number of major events, including
the Mille Miglia and Coupe des Alpes. As his experience with the little 4CV
built up, he incorporated many modifications, including for example, special 5
speed gear boxes replacing the original 3 speed unit. To provide a lighter car
he built a number of special versions with lightweight aluminium bodies: he
drove in these at Le Mans and Sebring with some success in the early 1950s.
Encouraged by the development of these cars and consequent customer demand, he
founded the Société Anonyme des Automobiles Alpine in 1954. The firm was named
Alpine after his Coupe des Alpes successes. He did not realise that over in
England the previous year, Sunbeam Car Company had introduced a sports coupe
derived from the Sunbeam Talbot and called the Sunbeam Alpine. This naming
problem was to cause problems for Alpine throughout its history. In 1955, he
worked with the Chappe brothers to be amongst the pioneers of auto glass fibre
construction and produced a small coupe, based on 4CV mechanicals and called
the Alpine A106. It used the platform chassis of the original Renault 4CV. The
A106 achieved a number of successes through the 1950s and was joined by a low
and stylish cabriolet. Styling for this car was contracted to the Italian designer
Michelotti. Under the glassfibre body was a very stiff chassis based on a
central tubular backbone which was to be the hallmark of all Alpines built.
Alpine then took the Michelotti cabriolet design and developed a 2+2 closed
coupe (or 'berlinette') body for it: this became the A108, built between 1958
and 1963. By now the car's mechanicals were beginning to show their age. Alpine
were already working closely with Renault and when the Renault R8 saloon was
introduced in 1962, Alpine redeveloped their chassis and made a number of minor
body changes to allow the use of R8 mechanicals. This new car was the A110
Berlinette Tour de France, named after a successful run with the Alpine A108 in
the 1962 event (SEE PHOTO). Starting with a 956 cc engine of
51 bhp (38 kW), the same chassis and body developed with relatively
minor changes over the years to the stage where, by 1974, the little car was
handling 1800 cc engines developing 180 bhp (134 kW)+. With a
competition weight for the car of around
This is a very nice and very rare non period photo that reflects
a wonderful era of Alpine ‘s and the Monte Carlo Rally ’s automotive history in
a wonderful way. This is your rare
chance to own this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format
of ca. 8" x 12" (ca. 20 x
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy. For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files and board backed envelopes.
We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
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