Monday 16th December 2024

Alpine GTA Le Mans | Spotted

Listed after the weekend's Six of the Best went live - but better late than never, eh?

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While Alpine’s focus right now will understandably be on getting the A290 to customers (and making the 5 Turbo 3E as mad as it looks), let’s not forget about the last-of-the-line A110 either. While special editions that bring production to an end can often be little more than stickers and a nice paint job, Alpine has thrown everything possible at the Ultime: new gearbox, more power, Ohlins dampers, AP Racing brakes, a heap of extra downforce… It promises to be very special indeed, a fitting farewell to a superb sports car. As well it might be for what it’s going to cost. 

There have been a good few A110 special editions since its launch at the end of 2017, including the Tour de Corse, San Remo, Enstone and Jean Rédélé. A lot for a car that’s always sold in such small quantities, but fun to find on the used market now. Until the Ultime, probably the most exciting of the limited-run cars has been the Le Mans, building on the carbon-crazy R with a special spec. Just 100 were made to mark the race’s centenary, but it’s not the first time Alpine has turned to the world’s most famous track for a special edition. 

Behold the GTA Le Mans, a model launched in 1990 to mark… well, it’s not entirely clear actually, but it’s an interesting specimen nonetheless. There were never very many made, with just 26 of the 325 coming to the UK (this is number 24, appropriately enough for the Le Mans), and as some of the first catalysed Alpines they actually had less power than earlier V6 Turbos.

Regardless, every Le Mans received the BBS-style wheels and a distinctive new bodykit to mark it out from the other GTAs. All of the UK cars were Imperial Red, too. This one is claimed to have covered less than 25,000 miles since new, which is pretty remarkable. 

Its condition supports that assertion, with everything present and correct inside (look at those seats!) and a nicely preserved exterior. The paint still looks fantastic, as do those graphics that look pinched from a team tracksuit of the time. Presumably all the GTAs that have lived this long will be good ’uns, but it’s still nice to see such a lovely one. 

The advert mentions a pricey gearbox rebuild in 2019, though not very much since then; it has been offered to the dealer by the fourth owner’s widow, so perhaps use and maintenance have tailed off in recent years. Some fresh fluids are probably advisable if it has been stored for a little while. But the MOT was passed without advisory in July, so even if it hasn’t been moved much it’s survived very well. £40k is the asking price - there won’t be many cooler classic sports cars for the money. 

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SPECIFICATION | ALPINE GTA LE MANS

Engine: 2,458cc, V6 turbo
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 185@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 212@2,250rpm
MPG: c. 25
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 1991
Recorded mileage: 25,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £39,995

See the original advert here

 

[Billy_Whizzzz]

You’d have to really want to be different for difference’s sake to buy that however nice it is when 40k gets you a much better 997.2 or even an A110

[mcmigo]

Wonderful. I have always loved these but never been brave enough to buy one. Those seats !

I believe a new electric version of this is coming from Alpine in a couple of years time.

[Turini]

185bhp from a turbo-charged 2.5 v6 - although the specs for the car stated 200bhp - shows just how much further engine tech has cone even if we’re seeing its end point on the very near horizon….

[GreatScott2016]

I’m being really picky here, but that steering wheel looks a tad rough for a 25,000 mile car!? The wheels made me chuckle though

[AmyRichardson]

Turini said:

185bhp from a turbo-charged 2.5 v6 - although the specs for the car stated 200bhp - shows just how much further engine tech has cone even if we’re seeing its end point on the very near horizon….

A large tranche of later cars dropped back to 185hp as first generation catalytic converters came in, and they only found how to deal with the issue (back to 210hp, woohoo!) in time for a few run-out models. Why this was the case, not all turbocharged PRVs were equally affected (???), isn't clear.

It's from an era of 220hp 911s and 250hp V8 Ferraris, for perspective.

[The Leaper]

Back in the day I had a series of Renaults including an 18 Turbo and a 21 Turbo, all company cars. I recall taking a car to the local Renault dealer for a service and an Alpine GTA Le Mans was in the showroom. I had a good look and a sit in it and hankered after one for some time, but never took things further. It's nice to see one pop up on PH. I must say the interior looks awful!

R.

[dinkel]

Turini said:

185bhp from a turbo-charged 2.5 v6 - although the specs for the car stated 200bhp - shows just how much further engine tech has cone even if we’re seeing its end point on the very near horizon….

Ever driven one?

Well, you are in for a treat if you haven't

This A310 - or any other - will make a period 911 struggle to tail

Amazing cars with full bred rally DNA

[Earthdweller]

That's lovely, I'm not sure I'm brave enough to buy it though

Having had Renaults of that time when they were new I know how badly built they were, my R5 took the dealer almost a year of visits to fix everything the factory didn't get right

As for the interior ... it's fabulous and absolutely of its time

I bet those velour seats are incredibly comfy

Lots of like here, not sure about what though

[stuckmojo]

These looked like spaceships when I was a kid. Rear engined exotica.

And a proper supercar interior.

WANT

[WPA]

Lovely car, something different

[PhilkSVR]

I had a beautiful blue A610 as a company car in ‘94 I think it was. There were only 11 imported that year. It was great, nobody knew what it was and I used to get asked all the time. It wasn’t perfect but because it was so rare it was special to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Mind you spares could be tough to acquire, but it was of its time and I’m glad I had the opportunity to own one.

Edited by PhilkSVR on Tuesday 17th December 08:41

[BigChiefmuffinAgain]

Great car which no one wanted at the time, and for some time after. This one doesn't wear its low miles that well. I imagine these are hard work now to keep going and finding spares for.

[Mark-C]

I have always loved these and that looks a nice example. Seems good value compared to the obvious alternatives and has rarity as well.

It's a "Yes" from me!

[BigGingerBob]

There was a red GTA/A610 that lived near me when I was a kid. I loved it and I was (and still am) smitten. It was bright red and had ultra cool 90s 5 spoke alloys.

I would but as someone else said, that dash is really bad! I was expecting £20k but my car buying head is still stuck in 2019.

[smilo996]

It is a decent design, especially the glass but 185bhp to push all that about seems a bit wheezy.
Those wheels too, ugh, something not great on the original either.
Still, as a counterpoint to divorce dads in 911's turning up at the classic car Sunday, very nice.

[wal 45]

What a great car, on the short list with the A610 and integrale as cars I should have taken the risk on 20 years or so ago.

The Alpine dealer in Southampton had one of these on display earlier this year, still loved everything about it and the pangs of regret came back again.

On a slight pedantic note though I remember the Performance Car road test at the time saying the Le Mans was available in blue too. I’ve only ever seen this colour, was blue non UK only?

Edited by wal 45 on Tuesday 17th December 09:09

[dunnoreally]

That interior is absolutely wonderful!

I do prefer how the A610s look from the outside, though.

[cirks]

Sold for £32,200 incl premium at Bonhams in September.............

Always loved the Alpines and almost bought a 610 Turbo but ended up with (and very pleased I did) the 928GT Manual instead...

[T1berious]

AmyRichardson said:

Turini said:

185bhp from a turbo-charged 2.5 v6 - although the specs for the car stated 200bhp - shows just how much further engine tech has cone even if we’re seeing its end point on the very near horizon….

A large tranche of later cars dropped back to 185hp as first generation catalytic converters came in, and they only found how to deal with the issue (back to 210hp, woohoo!) in time for a few run-out models. Why this was the case, not all turbocharged PRVs were equally affected (???), isn't clear.

It's from an era of 220hp 911s and 250hp V8 Ferraris, for perspective.

I think this was an issue in period and why it suffered from poor sales, a humble Corrado VR6 was doing 190 bhp. That's before you get to the super car slaying rally reps. Still a lovely thing though.

[J4CKO]

T1berious said:

AmyRichardson said:

Turini said:

185bhp from a turbo-charged 2.5 v6 - although the specs for the car stated 200bhp - shows just how much further engine tech has cone even if we’re seeing its end point on the very near horizon….

A large tranche of later cars dropped back to 185hp as first generation catalytic converters came in, and they only found how to deal with the issue (back to 210hp, woohoo!) in time for a few run-out models. Why this was the case, not all turbocharged PRVs were equally affected (???), isn't clear.

It's from an era of 220hp 911s and 250hp V8 Ferraris, for perspective.

I think this was an issue in period and why it suffered from poor sales, a humble Corrado VR6 was doing 190 bhp. That's before you get to the super car slaying rally reps. Still a lovely thing though.

This is a little before, even if its a 1991 car, its the end of the run a much earlier model from 1984 and that was towards the end of its run, the A610 took over and had 247 bhp.

Nice, but not sure its 40 grands worth with all that can buy nowadays.