The Alpine A108 is a light-weight glass-fibre bodied, rear-engined two-door coupé produced for a young competition-oriented Dieppe based Renault dealer called Jean Rédélé. The car replaced the Alpine A106 and was based on mechanical components from the Renault Dauphine.
The 108 was launched at the Paris Motor Show in autumn 1957, but production volumes were low and the company’s principal offering continued to be the older 106 model until 1960.
The Alpine 106 had taken its name from the first three digits of the four-digit homologation number of the old Renault 4CV on which the car was based. Applying the same logic, the new car should have been called 109 because it used mechanical components from the newer Renault Dauphine which was registered under the French homologation number 1090, but instead the new car, which inherited many of its non-mechanical components from the 106, was given the name Alpine 108. In this form, where the 106 had used an engine from the Renault 4CV, the new model, as launched in 1957, used the Gordini version of the 845 cc engine fitted in the Dauphine.
1960 saw the introduction of an Alpine 108 cabriolet and a 2+2 coupé.[1] These versions were slightly longer than the original and featured a newly developed “beams and backbone” chassis with the beams at each end supporting cradles which carried respectively the engine at the rear and the steering mechanism at the front. This basic architecture would be used for Alpine sports cars until the Alpine A110 was phased out in 1977. These models, like the original coupé, were assembled by Chappe et Gessalin, but with a wheelbase lengthened by 7 cm (2.8 in). The mechanical elements were as before, with the Renault Dauphine engine offered in 845 cc or 904 cc form. The lesser engine offered 37 hp (27 kW), while the bigger one claimed 53 hp (39 kW). By the time production of the 108 came to an end in 1965, fewer than 100 of these lengthened versions had been produced.
The 108 played an important part in the transformation of Alpine into a mainstream (though always low volume) car producer. In 1960, an upgraded version of the model known as the Berlinette Tour de France replaced the original “coach” version of the car. The obvious visual difference was at the front, where the headlights were now integrated into the front wing behind a windcheating perspex cover. This was the model offered in the showrooms from autumn 1960 and which continued in production until 1965, preparing the way for the commercially more successful A110.
Brazilian productionedit
The Brazilian A108 – Willys Interlagos Berlinette, 1964
The A108 was also produced in Brazil, thanks to an agreement with Willys-Overland. Renamed as Willys Interlagos, the model was built in three versions: berlinette, coupé, and convertible. The car also had a successful racing career. From 1962 to 1966, a total of 822 Interlagos were made in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo.
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alpine A108.
^ abChristian Descombes, Alpine, Label bleu, série et compétition, éditions E.P.A.
Alpine. Tous les modèles. Toutes les années, par Dominique Pascal. Massin éditeur. ISBN2-7072-0204-5
Ulrich Bethscheider-Kieser; Mike Riedner (Publisher.): Autos die Geschichte machten. Renault Alpine. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1991, ISBN978-3-613-01407-7, S. 156, DNB 911285024
alpine, a108, light, weight, glass, fibre, bodied, rear, engined, door, coupé, produced, young, competition, oriented, dieppe, based, renault, dealer, called, jean, rédélé, replaced, alpine, a106, based, mechanical, components, from, renault, dauphine, overvie. The Alpine A108 is a light weight glass fibre bodied rear engined two door coupe produced for a young competition oriented Dieppe based Renault dealer called Jean Redele The car replaced the Alpine A106 and was based on mechanical components from the Renault Dauphine Alpine A108OverviewManufacturerAlpineAlso calledWillys InterlagosProduction1958 1965 1 AssemblyDieppe FranceSao Bernardo do Campo BrazilDesignerGiovanni Michelotti 2 amp Phillipe CharlesBody and chassisClassSports carBody style2 door Coupe 2 door 2 2 Coupe 2 door CabrioletLayoutRR layoutRelatedRenault DauphinePowertrainEngine845 cc OHV I4904 cc OHV I4998 cc OHV I4Transmission3 speed manual 4 speed manual5 speed manualDimensionsWheelbase2 100 mm 83 in 2 160 mm 85 in Length3 700 mm 150 in 3 780 mm 149 in Width1 450 mm 57 in Height1 270 mm 50 in Curb weight530 kg 1 168 lb 600 kg 1 323 lb ChronologyPredecessorAlpine A106SuccessorAlpine A110 Contents 1 History 2 Brazilian production 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory editThe 108 was launched at the Paris Motor Show in autumn 1957 but production volumes were low and the company s principal offering continued to be the older 106 model until 1960 The Alpine 106 had taken its name from the first three digits of the four digit homologation number of the old Renault 4CV on which the car was based Applying the same logic the new car should have been called 109 because it used mechanical components from the newer Renault Dauphine which was registered under the French homologation number 1090 but instead the new car which inherited many of its non mechanical components from the 106 was given the name Alpine 108 In this form where the 106 had used an engine from the Renault 4CV the new model as launched in 1957 used the Gordini version of the 845 cc engine fitted in the Dauphine 1960 saw the introduction of an Alpine 108 cabriolet and a 2 2 coupe 1 These versions were slightly longer than the original and featured a newly developed beams and backbone chassis with the beams at each end supporting cradles which carried respectively the engine at the rear and the steering mechanism at the front This basic architecture would be used for Alpine sports cars until the Alpine A110 was phased out in 1977 These models like the original coupe were assembled by Chappe et Gessalin but with a wheelbase lengthened by 7 cm 2 8 in The mechanical elements were as before with the Renault Dauphine engine offered in 845 cc or 904 cc form The lesser engine offered 37 hp 27 kW while the bigger one claimed 53 hp 39 kW By the time production of the 108 came to an end in 1965 fewer than 100 of these lengthened versions had been produced The 108 played an important part in the transformation of Alpine into a mainstream though always low volume car producer In 1960 an upgraded version of the model known as the Berlinette Tour de France replaced the original coach version of the car The obvious visual difference was at the front where the headlights were now integrated into the front wing behind a windcheating perspex cover This was the model offered in the showrooms from autumn 1960 and which continued in production until 1965 preparing the way for the commercially more successful A110 Brazilian production edit nbsp The Brazilian A108 Willys Interlagos Berlinette 1964The A108 was also produced in Brazil thanks to an agreement with Willys Overland Renamed as Willys Interlagos the model was built in three versions berlinette coupe and convertible The car also had a successful racing career From 1962 to 1966 a total of 822 Interlagos were made in Sao Bernardo do Campo Sao Paulo References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alpine A108 a b Christian Descombes Alpine Label bleu serie et competition editions E P A Alpine Renault A106 motorbase com Retrieved 2011 09 05 Further reading editAlpine Tous les modeles Toutes les annees par Dominique Pascal Massin editeur ISBN 2 7072 0204 5 Ulrich Bethscheider Kieser Mike Riedner Publisher Autos die Geschichte machten Renault Alpine Motorbuch Verlag Stuttgart 1991 ISBN 978 3 613 01407 7 S 156 DNB 911285024External links editAllgemeine Informationen zur Alpine A108 permanent dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alpine A108 amp oldid 1180336656 Brazilian production, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
