Alpine A310 1600
The Alpine A310 was Jean Rédélé's follow-up to the legendary A110 rally champion. Introduced in 1971, the A310 represented Alpine's evolution toward a more civilized, modern sports car while retaining the lightweight, rear-engined philosophy that defined the brand. The early four-cylinder A310 1600 is the rarest and most pure version — lighter, more nimble, and more closely related to the A110's ethos.
The A310's styling was a dramatic departure from the A110's organic curves. The new car featured a wedge-shaped profile with pop-up headlights, angular lines, and a distinctive long rear window. The design was modern and aggressive, more supercar than sports car. The fiberglass body was mounted on Alpine's signature steel backbone chassis — the same basic construction method used on the A110.
The A310 1600 used a Renault-derived 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine mounted behind the rear axle, producing 127 hp through twin Weber 45 DCOE carburetors. In a car weighing just 940 kg (2,072 lbs), this was enough for 130 mph and 0-60 in 7.3 seconds — genuine sports car performance. The engine was essentially a highly-tuned Renault 16 unit, proving that Renault's mundane family car mechanicals could be transformed into something special.
The rear-engine layout created handling characteristics similar to early Porsche 911s — tremendous traction under acceleration, but lift-off oversteer that required respect. The double wishbone suspension at all four corners provided excellent balance and control. The 5-speed manual gearbox was slick and precise.
Only 2,340 four-cylinder A310s were built from 1971-1976 before Alpine switched to the PRV V6 engine. This makes the A310 1600 significantly rarer than the later V6 variants. Today, four-cylinder A310s are appreciated as the purist's Alpine — lighter, simpler, and more connected to the A110's rallying heritage. They represent the last of Alpine's truly lightweight sports cars before the company moved upmarket with the V6.
The A310 1600 is the purist's Alpine — lighter and more engaging than the V6 but also significantly rarer. The fiberglass body doesn't rust but can crack and is difficult to repair properly. The steel backbone chassis CAN rust — inspect thoroughly. The Renault four-cylinder is robust and parts are available, but Weber carburetors require expert tuning. The rear-engine handling requires experience — lift-off oversteer can bite. Four-cylinder cars are more collectible than V6s due to rarity and closer connection to A110 heritage. Values have risen substantially as Alpine collectors recognize the 1600's significance. Verify authenticity through Alpine specialists.
Total A310 1600 (four-cylinder) production: 2,340 units (1971-1976). Replaced by A310 V6 in 1976, which remained in production until 1984. The 1600 used Renault 16-derived 1.6L engine with twin Weber carburetors. Some cars featured electric windows and other luxury options rare for Alpine. Built at Alpine's factory in Dieppe, France. Significantly rarer than V6 variants.