Alpine Renault GTA turbo
Discussion
I had a Turbo one in the early 90's, it was a great car but used to flatten it's battery with the cooling fan runing on for ever, and it set on fire due to a leaking jubilee clip on the fuel rail. Luckily I had an extinguisher on hand and managed to put it out before the whole thing melted.
boyse7en said:
Always wanted one of these since it was the front cover car of Performance Car back in teh late '80s
The Le Mans version in burgundy metallic please
The Le Mans was a sheep in wolf's clothing. It only had 185bhp compared to 200bhp for a regular GTA Turbo (due to catalytic converter I think). Coupled with the wider, heavier bodywork it would have been considerably slower. A bit like the poseur's Porsche 911s from the 1980s 911 Carrera Supersport, or 2000s Carrera 4S: i.e. ostentatious 911 Turbo wide body, but with only the regular normally aspirated motor.The Le Mans version in burgundy metallic please
The A610 was the best of the breed. As well as being considerably faster with a useful 50bhp more, they were more solidly put together and less plasticky inside. Trouble is they only sold a handful so there's not a lot to choose from.
Great under rated and under valued cars.
Had my A610 for 6 years now.
The GTA is an absolute performance bargain, the A610 commands a better price due to it's rarity (68 RHD made, less than 40 left in the UK)
Lee at Renault Alpine Tuning Services (Derby) and John at JL Engineering (London) are the experts with these cars and always happy to help.
Would definitely recommend joining RAOC as well.
Enjoy your GTA.
Had my A610 for 6 years now.
The GTA is an absolute performance bargain, the A610 commands a better price due to it's rarity (68 RHD made, less than 40 left in the UK)
Lee at Renault Alpine Tuning Services (Derby) and John at JL Engineering (London) are the experts with these cars and always happy to help.
Would definitely recommend joining RAOC as well.
Enjoy your GTA.
Johnston said:
Great under rated and under valued cars.
Had my A610 for 6 years now.
The GTA is an absolute performance bargain, the A610 commands a better price due to it's rarity (68 RHD made, less than 40 left in the UK)
Lee at Renault Alpine Tuning Services (Derby) and John at JL Engineering (London) are the experts with these cars and always happy to help.
Would definitely recommend joining RAOC as well.
Enjoy your GTA.
Christ that's lovelyHad my A610 for 6 years now.
The GTA is an absolute performance bargain, the A610 commands a better price due to it's rarity (68 RHD made, less than 40 left in the UK)
Lee at Renault Alpine Tuning Services (Derby) and John at JL Engineering (London) are the experts with these cars and always happy to help.
Would definitely recommend joining RAOC as well.
Enjoy your GTA.
Thanks for all the great comments. I spent a good few hours on Sunday tinkering and I think it's a pretty decent example and it certainly goes well when the turbo wakes up. Lots of things on the "to do" list already, but I think I'll try and get some miles on it during May and flush out any problem, then spend June fixing them ready for a trip to the Le Mans Classic.
Another gratuitous shot - they always look like big cars in photo's but actually they're really low and look a lot more special in the flesh.
Another gratuitous shot - they always look like big cars in photo's but actually they're really low and look a lot more special in the flesh.
Have you noticed the bright orange sticker which I seem to remember is near to the petrol cap? There's a similar one somewhere else on the car, iirc. It describes how the car is not meant to be sold or driven in America. It says something like "This high performance vehicle has driving characteristics quite unlike those of most American passenger cars". 
I used to delight in showing that to my American pals.
I used to delight in showing that to my American pals.
What are the cosmetic differences between A610 and GTA? From what I can see:
Front and rear bumpers different
Popup headlights on A610
Rear wheel vent on A610
Side skirts on A610
The "horizontal cut" along the side bodywork is indented on the GTA but proud on the A610
Different spoiler.
Apart from that it's the same on the skin?
Front and rear bumpers different
Popup headlights on A610
Rear wheel vent on A610
Side skirts on A610
The "horizontal cut" along the side bodywork is indented on the GTA but proud on the A610
Different spoiler.
Apart from that it's the same on the skin?
Raize said:
What are the cosmetic differences between A610 and GTA? From what I can see:
Front and rear bumpers different
Popup headlights on A610
Rear wheel vent on A610
Side skirts on A610
The "horizontal cut" along the side bodywork is indented on the GTA but proud on the A610
Different spoiler.
Apart from that it's the same on the skin?
I believe Renault Alpine launched it as a "completely new car" however it is similar underneath, the main difference I believe is that the A610 has a 3.0V6 turbo instead of a 2.5V6 turbo as in the GTA turbo and with a bigger intercooler gives an extra 50bhp (although it's a little bit heavier).Front and rear bumpers different
Popup headlights on A610
Rear wheel vent on A610
Side skirts on A610
The "horizontal cut" along the side bodywork is indented on the GTA but proud on the A610
Different spoiler.
Apart from that it's the same on the skin?
They look very similar but I think around 85% of the A610 was new.
Different bumpers front and rear, bonnet, lights front and rear, doors, interior, seats, wheels, spoiler and completely different construction underneath too (chassis and engine). In fact, I think only the roof, glass, mirrors and wipers were shared (and the wipers and mirrors were only common on UK cars because the LHD cars used Renault 19 wing mirrors and 'conventional' LHD wipers, not the Alpine 'clap hand' wipers that us Alpine drivers have grown to love!)
Different bumpers front and rear, bonnet, lights front and rear, doors, interior, seats, wheels, spoiler and completely different construction underneath too (chassis and engine). In fact, I think only the roof, glass, mirrors and wipers were shared (and the wipers and mirrors were only common on UK cars because the LHD cars used Renault 19 wing mirrors and 'conventional' LHD wipers, not the Alpine 'clap hand' wipers that us Alpine drivers have grown to love!)
That yellow one is worthy of being a teenagers bedroom pin up. It is incredible that a decent example can be had for under £20K. I assume it is the badge that has kept prices so low.
250bhp is not massive but in its day, very respectable. As a turbo though, delivery would make it feel even quicker.
250bhp is not massive but in its day, very respectable. As a turbo though, delivery would make it feel even quicker.
It was my teenage bedroom pin up along with the F40! First sat in a yellow A610 at the 1992 Motor Show as a 12 year old and the rather lovely Alpine representative's really made us feel special. I told my parents that I would have one, one day!
It's a very special car to me. Only 250bhp but 0-60 in 5.4 ain't too shabby and a top speed of 167mph is reasonable for a 22 year old car. But it just feels so wonderful to drive. Read the reports from the likes of Performance car magazine when it was new and you'll see it was held in rather high esteem back then ...
'...it's likely to remain a rare sight on our roads. And that is a very great shame, because not only is it one of the greatest driving machines we've ever had the pleasure to squeeze our bottoms into, but it makes the heart beat faster just to see it on the road, especially as you may have guessed in none too mellow yellow, People just stop and stare, and then smile - they would never dream of owing a car like this, but they're sure as hell glad that someone somewhere does. The Alpine, the sublime Alpine is soon to be collected by Renault. Of course, they'll have to find me first.' -Peter Tomalin, Performance Car
It's a very special car to me. Only 250bhp but 0-60 in 5.4 ain't too shabby and a top speed of 167mph is reasonable for a 22 year old car. But it just feels so wonderful to drive. Read the reports from the likes of Performance car magazine when it was new and you'll see it was held in rather high esteem back then ...
'...it's likely to remain a rare sight on our roads. And that is a very great shame, because not only is it one of the greatest driving machines we've ever had the pleasure to squeeze our bottoms into, but it makes the heart beat faster just to see it on the road, especially as you may have guessed in none too mellow yellow, People just stop and stare, and then smile - they would never dream of owing a car like this, but they're sure as hell glad that someone somewhere does. The Alpine, the sublime Alpine is soon to be collected by Renault. Of course, they'll have to find me first.' -Peter Tomalin, Performance Car
Eagerbeaver said:
That yellow one is worthy of being a teenagers bedroom pin up. It is incredible that a decent example can be had for under £20K. I assume it is the badge that has kept prices so low.
250bhp is not massive but in its day, very respectable. As a turbo though, delivery would make it feel even quicker.
250bhp is not massive but in its day, very respectable. As a turbo though, delivery would make it feel even quicker.
T5GRF said:
Lovely car Sparkey, well done!
I have been looking at these on EBay for months now they are a bargin!
I nearly bought a N/A red GTA back in 1991 but ended up buying a 390se instead.
The better the example the more of a bargain it is. Not sure how much you have to pay to get a good one but I suspect you are better paying a little too much than a bit too little if you see what I mean. I have been looking at these on EBay for months now they are a bargin!
I nearly bought a N/A red GTA back in 1991 but ended up buying a 390se instead.
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