It’s French. It’s turbocharged. It’s as fast as any supercar of the era. And most likely, you’ve never seen one. The Grand Tourisme Alpine was conceived after Renault purchased Alpine in 1974 to save the niche company from bankruptcy. Alpine had been fielding competitive race and rally cars for decades; its expertise gave Renault the talent to tackle the niche that Porsche so ably occupied. The 1985 launch of the GTA represented Renault’s entry into the performance market. This example can be found here on craigslist, priced at $28,888 and located in MontVerde, Florida. Thanks, Tony Primo, for spotting this rare car for us!
Most enthusiasts see a French car and expect something weird. The GTA does not disappoint. No, this engine is not sitting under the hood; it’s rear-mounted, covered by the hatch. The first GTA received a conventional Renault PRV (Peugeot/Renault/Volvo) V6 – the same mill found in the DeLorean DMC-12. Output was meager by sports car standards, at 160 hp. So the company pulled its 2.5-liter turbocharged V6 off the shelf (it was being used in the Renault 25 sedan) and tossed it in the back of the GTA’s multi-panelled plastic body. Its 200 hp propelling only 2700 lbs lit up the pavement: sixty came up in 6.3 seconds, and top speed was clocked at 150 mph. The downside is turbo lag, which can surprise if you’re throttle-down going into a curve. The steering is direct and responsive; the gearbox is a five-speed transaxle driving the rear wheels. This car has recently been imported, showing only 45,000 miles on the clock. It’s been treated to an engine-out service, as well as a new clutch, water pump, coolant hoses, brakes, and rebuilt front suspension.
The interior has its good points – namely, the supportive bucket seats and the funky steering wheel. But the switches and gauges come from more mundane cars. The seller mentions that the air conditioning has been upgraded. While the GTA does offer seating for four, there’s precious little legroom in the rear.
Alpine’s designer, Yves Legal, migrated to Renault after the merger. Famous for helping design the Turbo 5, Legal facelifted the A310 into this swoopy but offbeat sports car. Part 928 and part Starion/Conquest, but not either one, the styling falls into the category “love it or hate it”. With fewer than 7500 made – including all variants – this car’s value is a matter of desire more than reason: if you must have one, here it is. Or you can opt for this example, with a few hours to go in its auction. Do you find this French performance car tempting?
Oui! Why did I think these cars were twice this expensive? Definitely this red one for me. The wing, wheels, and interior of the black one look a bit JC Whitney’ish to me. Excellent one, Michelle!
But of course, mon ami! … that Oddball Scotty would take notice of this rare amalgamation of plastic and turbo!
Probably look great with a roof rack and some skis 🎿 too. Can see this blasting up to the Mountains in France 🇫🇷 ❄️
it could have made a nice appearance in ” For your eyes only ” instead of Bond’s Lotus
Love that movie and Esprit robèrt lol. Moore is my favorite 007. 🔫
Cool car, I’d have thought the value would have been higher in Europe than the United States. The gauges and switches look like refugees from the 1960’s. Would be fun and distinctive, just don’t hit anything, replacement body and trim items have got to be hard to find in the US, this expensive after factoring in shipping. Price seems reasonable for what you are getting, but hard to tell what it is in real life.
Steve R
Lol, wondered what you meant by ’60s gauges and switches until I checked the ad, looks like a photo from a completely different car snuck in there, prolly that blue car in the garage in the background.
You are right, once I saw those, the other pictures of the correct dash were wiped from my memory.
Steve R
Sweet!! Two different prices in the ad.
Bon, c’est bon, bon-bon c’est bon bon, bon, c’est bon-bon-bon booooooon bon…
So long … 🎶
Is this a PRV variation or a completely different engine?
I knew they were made 2.0 – 4.0 L and NA, turbo and supercharged.
All GTAs, A610s, and ’77-on A310s had some form of PRV, as equipped here.
I have been an Alpine fan since the A310 Rally car. I think this is a beautiful design. BUT I really have a dislike for the PRV engine. Being an ex Volvo service manager in the ’90s would do that to you. In the Volvo world where you could order either engine. The resale value of the V6 was half of what a standard non-turbo was. And they mounted the engine so far forward in the engine bay. That you could see easily half the transmission. Which made it very accessible for repairs which was a regular thing, and also made the car very nose heavy. When I put the Ford 5.0 and AOD transmission in my 265 wagon. (With the engine tight up to the firewall where it should be.) The front end of the car sat so high. I had to call IPD for some shorter springs! The engine just ruins this car for me.
Are you forgetting the 504 rallye cars with v6?
More prv soon.
504 a very strong rally car. Safari killer!. I never knew what engine it had. There is a 504 wagon that has been sitting behind a house in my neighborhood that I really should check out. A friend had a 504 sedan that had a 4 cyl. engine. That he loved. 4 speed on the column if I remember correctly.
Don’t know if any 504 coupe had v6beside race and rallye cars. I think other 504 s were 4 cylinder.
Prv v6 has record for top speed at lemans
Wow, very cool and never seen one. Thanks Michelle!
BTW, love the stray photo if the gauges from a ’60s era something or other. Must be the blue thing in the garage. Anyone know what that is? Looks a little like a Triumph Herald, but that’s not English script on the gauges ….
That’s an early ’60s Ford Falcon instrument cluster! And yes, that looks like a Triumph Herald (with the trunk open) in the garage. Beautiful car, but the wrong engine for me. Even in the DeLorean where the engine was supposed to be “upgraded”. It wasn’t very impressive.
It looks similar to an early Falcon dash, but not exactly. Labels appear to be Italian. Lower portion of that dash is blue, so I’m inclined to agree it’s prolly from that blue car in the garage in the background. Think it may be an Alfa Romeo Giulietta berlina?
Car in garage is a series 2 or 3 Alfa Romeo Giulietta sedan. This shape was built from mid-50s to mid-60s, this is the 1959-onwards dashboard.
Got a brochure for one somewhere, seen a new one, driven an old one (a pal had one for a while). Nice GT – but I’d rather have a 110…
Best looking Renault ever!
Don’t know if any 504 coupe had v6beside race and rallye cars. I think other 504 s were 4 cylinder.
Prv v6 has record for top speed at lemans