Alpine A110 1300

The Alpine A110 1300 is a useful collecting category only when the exact engine and subtype remain attached. It covers a larger-engine chapter of the original Berlinette, but the broad number thirteen hundred cannot carry every specification associated with the name.

History and documented identity

The Dieppe club’s chronology distinguishes larger-engine 1300 developments, while the checked RM Sotheby’s V70 record documents a later 1255 cc Gordini replacement subsequently developed to 1296 cc. These sources support the need to distinguish engine families and modifications; they do not establish one specification for every 1300. Club Alpine Dieppe — A110 history.

Design and collector significance

An A110 can preserve its chassis history while acquiring a substantially different mechanical character. For a collector, that makes the engine story part of the vehicle story rather than a footnote. A coherent file should explain the original subtype, subsequent preparation and current configuration. It should not rely on the rounded 1300 label to smooth over those changes.

How to identify the right specification

Before entering displacement, output or transmission into a specification table, establish which subtype the record concerns. The supplied 1965 entry is broad; this draft therefore preserves that year in the inventory notes while avoiding a forced production-start year or universal horsepower claim. Use the related named variants when the evidence supports a more exact profile. The illustrated 1971 car is labelled as a later family example, not a verified 1965 specification.

Production, rarity and counting scope

A complete 1300-only production count is not established by the reviewed sources. The total for all classic Berlinettes is neither a count for this engine family nor a substitute for subtype production. Do not combine the 1300, 1300 G and Super/S rows as additional independent allocations unless their scopes are defined. Numeric total and strict <=7,500 eligibility remain pending review.

What to inspect before buying

A good inspection should record engine identification, induction, gearbox and evidence of preparation work. Ask whether a larger capacity arose from a replacement engine or changes to the original unit and what documentation supports the answer. Review structural repair photographs and invoices alongside the mechanical file. An upgraded car may be a sound and interesting purchase, but the description should disclose the work clearly instead of implying unchanged factory condition.

Where it fits in an Alpine collection

The A110 1100 shows why an earlier chassis can appear with larger mechanicals. The A110 956 gives the early-model comparison. Use those relationships to follow development, not to merge three engine categories into one production figure. Within the 1300 chapter, subtype-specific evidence should determine the next level of detail.

Collector documentation checklist

• Separate the original build description from the car’s current specification.
• Keep chassis, engine and ownership evidence together in a dated file.
• Record which claims come from factory material, club research, an auction catalogue or the present owner.
• Retain photographs of restoration and significant component replacements.
• Keep completed production, regional allocation and known survivors in separate fields.

Frequently asked questions

Does A110 1300 identify one exact engine?

No. Rounded displacement names require subtype and engine evidence before assigning specifications.

Are 1255 cc and 1296 cc interchangeable?

No. They must be described separately and tied to the relevant engine or documented modification.

Is the photograph a verified 1965 car?

No. It is a source-described 1971 1.3-liter A110 and is explicitly captioned as a later family illustration.

Explore related Alpine profiles

• Alpine A110 1100
• Alpine A110 Berlinette 956

Sources and research scope

• Club Alpine Dieppe — A110 history
• RM Sotheby’s — 1964 Alpine-Renault A110 1100 V70, chassis 3091
• Alpine — Alpine passion through the years at Retromobile

Historical facts follow the linked records; inspection guidance and collection comparisons are editorial analysis. Where sources use different counting scopes or a subtype remains broad, those limits are stated rather than resolved with an invented number.

Photography and credit

A 1971 Alpine A110 Berlinette 1.3 at the NEC Classic Motor Show 2018. Later 1.3-liter family illustration; it does not establish a 1965 engine or chassis specification. Photo: Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0. Original file imported without content retouching. WordPress may resize display copies; the website layout may crop them.