We often turn our noses up at replicas, realizing they’re a far cry from the genuine article and fail to deliver the driving experience promised by their exterior. But sometimes, such as in the case of a replica Porsche 550 Spyder or Speedster, the driving experience is still respectable – and the buy-in, far cheaper. This 1966 Willys Interlagos here on eBay is a more affordable means of owning an Alpine A108 and has been built to A110 specifications.
Translation: the Interlagos was a Brazilian-built Alpine A108, but this particular example has the larger 1.5L Renault-sourced R12 motor with about 120 b.h.p. that came in the later A110. The Interlagos was built by Willys-Overland, and even as a “replica,” it was built in extremely limited numbers and remains desirable today. Truthfully, replica isn’t the best word here, as they were built in the same time period as the Alpine, just on a different assembly line.
I’m sure someone can put a finer point on my interpretation of the Willys-Alpine relationship, and I’d encourage you to join the conversation below. No matter which flavor of Alpine you’re hunting for, the A108s and A110s are hard cars to find in any condition – and you can expect a fairly high price tag for the genuine article. This A108 is far more affordable, listed with an opening bid of $27K. Keep it mind, it’s also located in Brazil, so factor in shipping costs.
The seller says this example has been laid up for 20 years, only moving under its own power just recently. The Willys does run, and the seller notes a variety of cosmetic defects in the paint. Based on the hood hinges in this photo, it appears this Interlagos was formerly white and now spots a blue exterior with surfaces. The seller notes 37,000 miles on the odometer and that a spare set of bucket seats will be included in the sale. Have you ever seen a Willys Interlagos? Thanks to Barn Finds reader Peter R. for the find.
Hi.How to order something in the shop, for us who live outside of the US. The address outside of US????
What a great looking car, all except the cooky looking rear fender openings. Why ar they squarish while the front openings are round. I have never herd of or seen one of these before. This looks like a fun little car provided you can get parts for it.
Someone has been after the rear of this car, Mark. Hard to tell how good the fiberglass work might be, but the shape of the wheel arches — and, in fact, the whole aft end — look “off” to me.
Aside from trim pieces, it’s all Renault underneath, which you may or may not consider a Good Thing. I know those bits no longer grow on trees, if they ever did on this continent.
I’ve never seen an Interlagos, but have seen a Dinalpin or two and have driven an Alpine-built A110. That one was a 1600S, with a hotted-up Renault 16 engine, and the thing went like hammers. Handled at least as well as a 911, too. At 6’2″ and roughly 200 lbs, I actually fit, though there wasn’t a lot of surplus space….
In original condition, they’re lovely cars.
The only time and place Renault parts were plentiful and available was in the late 70’s and early 80’s in Quebec, Canada! We had a short stint of cool euro cars which ended up failing due to many factors (economic, political, marketing and international competitors). Although…. parts are still available on St. Pierre and Miquelon …. soooo ….. technically that’s still in “North America”
Much like selling a painting of your ex-wife. The train has left the station .
Never seen one before. So is it a case of the trunk not being closed or can’t be closed? It is different.
Cars similar to an Alpine were built in Portugal (I think), Brazil and Mexico, places where Renaults were manufactured. 10 years ago I decided I needed an Alpine but the ones in Europe were way more than I was going to spend so I connected with the Dinalpin Owners Club in Mexico. I arranged a trip to Mexico City, met with a couple of club members and had a 2-day tour of Dinalpins for sale. Rode in one (traffic was terrible) and bought it. Seller shipped it to border and imported it and I picked it up in Texas. Drove it very little after getting it home. Webers were too big for the engine, car rattled and was generally a mess- I was used to more civilized stepnose Alfa and 356. I sold it to a Renault racer in the Netherlands. When the transport driver came to pick it up he couldn’t fit in the car so we had to drive it up on the transport ourselves.
Looks fantastic until you get to the rear quarter window then it all goes horribly wrong .
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Older pictures on the internet show the rest wheel arches just like this one. This car is a beauty!
As i did some research on these interlagos. They were made for only 2 years from 64-66 but the rear end is nowhere close to this. This could be mod later on that tail
Since the picture above is for a 1966 and you can see the name willys in the back.
Good day, my name is Tammy I have a Willys Interlagos im having trouble finding out what year it is. can anyone help.
It looks great from the front, not so much, from the back.
It looks that we may have a Dinaldin A110 instead of the interlagos i think by looking in the back end. What do you guys think.
Dinaldin was made in México
Not replicas, these were built under license. Similarly, Mototrans in Spain built Ducati motorcycles, SEAT built FIATs, even Harley-Davidsons were licensed to a Japanese company before WWII. Yhere are many other examples as well, but these are certainly not to be considered replicas.
These cars are NOT kit cars in any way they were built under license.
I think the A110 is so well loved they’ve brought it back (’16 or ’18?).
Love the lines on this 1, and the huge DCOE!
the front looks very convincing. About the tail section? it seems the designers stopped caring about making it convincing as well
One of the first car companies that built factories in Brazil was Willys, which back then had a deal with Renault (you Americans remember the Renault/AMC days, of course). In the 1960s, Willys-Overland, as the Brazilian operations were called, had a peculiar car lineup for the Brazilian market, formed by both Willys cars, like the Aero, and Renault/Alpine cars, like the Dauphine and the Interlagos, as the A108 was called here, after the race track in São Paulo.
It is indeed an official Renault, as the company’s Brazilian website mentions it:
http://imprensa.renault.com.br/release/item/willys-interlagos-foi-destaque-durante-a-noite-renault-no-auto-show-veiculos-antigos-e-especiais/pt
There’s not much information in English available, but BaT once featured one of the cars:
https://bringatrailer.com/2017/12/05/rare-brazilian-alpine-1964-willys-interlagos-a108-roadster/
That might be a pretty cool option but honestly at that price and including shipping and knowing that it’ll likely costs tens of thousands to get it to the condition most would want, I’d go with the real deal… https://www.ebay.com/itm/1976-Renault-ALPINE-A110-BERLINETTE-BLACK/202294095697?hash=item2f19aaef51:g:b58AAOSwihpay-xv
I’ve seen this Interlagos once, Campinas is only 25km from Indaiatuba, where I live. In great shape they are worth about US$70k.
About the Willys Interlagos: the model was produced under license from Renault, released back in 1961 and stayed into production until 1966. In five years they made only 822 cars from three different body styles: Coupé, Berlinette and Convertible. The engines ranged from the 850 to the 1.000 all Renault-based Dauphine and Gordini.
Interlagos was the first brazilian sports-car and also the very first with a fiberglass body. There was a different built and assembly-plant specifically for the model, very close to the famous Interlagos racetrack at São Paulo.
Here is an official picture of the model from the last year od production – 1966:
I agree about the styling is weird with the square rear openings and rounded front for the wheels, But it IS a super interesting care and very exotic looking, Be really fun to drive in the US and watch the reactions.
Anymore, about 70-80% of people have no situational awareness other than themselves or so engrossed with their DumFones (even while driving) But its great when you see someone who notices things. I bet this would sure turn heads.
The history of the Alpine in Euro endurance is first before Lancia as a road car these outperform 911’s handle like a dream are easily nodded up and have great road manners. This car is a buy. You