Alpine A110 Crash Repair Project

[AceOfHearts]

I have recently bought a crash damaged Alpine A110 Legende, and will be repairing it over the coming months to take over duties as my main car.

I have loved the look of these for years, but didn't think I would be able to afford one. Buying one damaged, and repairing it myself is a way for it to become attainable.

I am making a start with a weekly YouTube series on it, which is a new thing for me so hopefully the videos will improve as I go along. I will also post up on here periodically with some pictures.

For anyone wondering, my background was in engineering, but I now work full time with cars, hence having some good bodywork contacts and also having some experience of doing similar before, although never on my own car.

Here's some pics of the day I went to view it





And here is how it currently looks at my parents garage



Once it is rolling I will be able to bring it back to mine to finish. I have a gravel driveway so was not able to unload it there with the damaged corner.

Here is the Video Part 1



Part 2



Please be kind
I am not a professional Youtuber but am trying my best!

[Hammy98]

Haven't been able to watch the videos yet as in work... but assuming no frame/chassis damage?

It looks like quite a hit bodywork-wise but the frunk still looks like it's in the right shape.

Great project! Always fancied one of these and I think the blue yours is in is nicer than the lighter blue you usually see.

[HTP99]

Will be following with interest.

Abyss Blue with the brown interior, very nice.

[E-numbers]

Very interested to follow this. Good luck!

[AceOfHearts]

Hammy98 said:

Haven't been able to watch the videos yet as in work... but assuming no frame/chassis damage?

It looks like quite a hit bodywork-wise but the frunk still looks like it's in the right shape.

Great project! Always fancied one of these and I think the blue yours is in is nicer than the lighter blue you usually see.

No the frame looks fine, and the only monocoque damage is a small crease where the bottom of the wing bolts on, so should be pretty easy to repair

[119]

I’m so in!

[Panamax]

AceOfHearts said:

monocoque damage is a small crease where the bottom of the wing bolts on, so should be pretty easy to repair

And yet that's presumably what made it a Category S write-off?

[croyde]

Love these, all the best with it. Sorely regret selling mine.

I'm currently following a Lithuanian guy on YouTube who lives in Northern Ireland (He has a great accent) who bought a badly crashed Emira V6 and then left it to rot outside for quite a while before starting to sort it.

Great viewing and he makes mistakes and has to take bits apart again and start over.

[AceOfHearts]

Panamax said:

And yet that's presumably what made it a Category S write-off?

I don't think it was even visible before the smashed wing was removed. I think it was Cat S as the wishbones were snapped and I guess that is classed as part of the 'structure' of the car.

Apart from that crease which I have shown in the first video, the rest is all bolt on

[Panamax]

Surely wishbones bolt on, which would be Category N. I suspect somebody must have seen something to award it an "S".

Category S (Structural): The vehicle suffered damage to its core structural frame, chassis, or crumple zones. It requires more intensive, specialist repair and must be re-registered with the DVLA.

Category N (Non-structural): The damage was purely cosmetic, electrical, or limited to bolt-on parts. The core safety cell was completely untouched.

[alfabeat]

Excellent project! Following! Videos are very watchable - well done!

[duncancallum]

If its S theres something bigger lurking

[Megaflow]

duncancallum said:

If its S theres something bigger lurking

It always, they sometimes get categorised as an S when there is no structural damage. Saving Salvage has got lucky before with it.

[Ambleton]

Panamax said:

Category S (Structural): The vehicle suffered damage to its core structural frame, chassis, or crumple zones. It requires more intensive, specialist repair and must be re-registered with the DVLA.

A lot of crash beams with bean cans (engineered crumple zones) are bolt on nowadays. I've seen multiple cars like this.

Technically you can suffer a collapsed crumple zone AND be a bolt on part... now, wether that's the case here or not, no idea. Or if a surveyor would even pick that up...

[Mr Tidy]

That looks like a fantastic project so I wish you all the best with it.

When I was handling motor claims back in the 80s/90s any potential loss got inspected by a qualified motor engineer, but that isn't always the case any more. 8 years ago my nephew had a collision in his E46 BMW and his insurer decided it was a Cat S based purely on photos he took on his 'phone!

There was no structural damage whatsoever so he decided to keep it. A used bonnet and a pattern wing from Ebay then some paint and it was better than before with a few hundred quid left over.

[mwstewart]

Any ripples in the floor? That or the roof (not applicable in your case) are mostly mean cat S.

The assessors see so many cars and don't always perform a thorough inspection, so play it safe with a more severe category.

This Alpine doesn't look too bad to me.

[fttm]

Pic 2 , just odd light or is the a kink centre front of roof ? Hopefully former .

[AceOfHearts]

No kink in the roof, must just be the light. A few more update pictures from today, and a little bit more filming for next week's video