The Alpine A106 was the first of a line of lightweight, glass-fibre-bodied, rear-engined two-door coupés produced for the young competition-minded Dieppe Renault dealer Jean Rédélé. The car was based on mechanical components of the Renault 4CV.
Alpine A106 at a glance
| Launch | summer 1955; first three cars in red, white and blue shown to Renault CEO Pierre Dreyfus |
|---|---|
| Body | lightweight glass fibre, rear-engined two-door coupé |
| Mechanicals | Renault 4CV |
| Mille Miles version | 43 hp (32 kW), derived from a Renault competition 4CV |
| Name | 106 from the 4CV homologation numbers 1060, 1062 and 1063 |
| Early assembly | by Chappe et Gessalin |
| Successor | Alpine A108, launched in 1957 |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only, so the figures could not be cross-checked against a second source.
History of the Alpine A106
The car was inspired by the “Marquis”, a Renault 4CV-based coupé acquired for production under licence in the United States but never produced. More direct inspiration came from the “Allemano”, another 4CV-based coupé prototype, modified by Chappe et Gessalin, the firm that would assemble the early glass-fibre A106s for Alpine. Under the skin the A106 closely resembled the 4CV; the more sporting 43 hp “A106 Mille Miles” derived from a competition version of the 4CV developed by Renault.
The number 106 also came from Renault: 1060, 1062 and 1063 were the numbers under which the 4CV was registered with the French homologation authorities. The Alpine 107 was a steel-bodied prototype that never entered production. At this stage the emphasis was not on selling cars to the public but on competition success, indicating financial support from Renault; in the summer of 1955 the first three A106s were presented to Renault CEO Pierre Dreyfus, and from 1955 the little A106 began to accumulate a succession of victories.
Design and features
- Body: lightweight glass fibre.
- Options: performance options such as Mille Miles (Mille Miglia) suspension were offered.
Alpine A106 versions
- A106: the standard car.
- A106 Mille Miles: the 43 hp sporting version.
More Alpine cars are in our Alpina and Alpine collection, for example the A108 that replaced it and the A110.
Alpine A106 questions and answers
Who was the Alpine A106 built for?
Jean Rédélé, a Renault dealer in Dieppe.
What is it based on?
The Renault 4CV.
What does 106 mean?
It comes from the 4CV homologation numbers 1060, 1062 and 1063.
What replaced it?
The Alpine A108.
Sources
- Alpine A106, English Wikipedia: origins, name, launch
