Alpine A110 Berlinette (1963–1977) Price Guide

The Alpine A110 Berlinette won the first World Rally Championship in 1973 and inspired Lancia to build the Stratos specifically to beat it. Jean Rédélé’s creation — rear-mounted Renault engine in a tubular backbone chassis under a Michelotti fibreglass body — proved that lightness and balance could overcome any power deficit, anywhere.

The Car

Produced at Dieppe from 1963 to 1977, the Berlinette used a progression of Renault engines from a 956cc Renault R8 unit in the earliest cars through to 1.3, 1.5, and 1.6-litre four-cylinders producing up to 140bhp in competition form. The tubular steel backbone chassis carried the engine behind the rear axle, giving the car its characteristic balance. The fibreglass body was bonded to the chassis — light but fragile in impacts. Road weight was around 700kg. The 1600S of 1969 is the most celebrated road variant; the 1600SX of the mid-1970s represents the final, most refined development. Around 7,200 Berlinettes were built, but given the wide variety of engines and specifications, and the number modified for competition, no two are truly identical.

The Rally Record

In the 1971 Monte Carlo Rally, Alpine finished first, second, and fourth overall. The 1973 World Rally Championship – the inaugural season – was dominated by the A110 1800: six victories including Monte Carlo and San Remo, beating Porsche, Lancia, and Ford. Renault acquired the company the same year as Alpine’s success made it too expensive for Rédélé to retain independently.

What to Know

The fibreglass body does not rust but cracks in impacts and is often poorly repaired. The steel backbone chassis and subframes corrode, particularly at the rear where the engine sits – inspect underneath carefully. Renault engines are mechanically simple but parts for the earlier 1.1 and 1.3-litre units are becoming scarce; the 1.6 is better supported. The five-speed gearbox is robust. Competition history multiplies values dramatically. The Berlinette was produced across multiple factories and under licence internationally, so provenance verification is essential for any car claimed to have works involvement.

Buying

Values have risen consistently on the back of the 1973 WRC connection and the modern A110’s revival keeping Alpine in the public consciousness. A road car with correct engine and matching chassis number is the baseline; documented competition history transforms the proposition entirely. The A310 that replaced it in Alpine’s range took a different, more refined approach. The modern A110 of 2017 offers the same founding philosophy in a contemporary package for buyers who want the Alpine experience without classic car ownership complexity.