Alpine
A106

Why it matters

The A106 was the first production Alpine, a Renault 4CV-based fibreglass coupe that made Jean Rédélé's competition-bred company and became a favourite of French rally drivers.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Rédélé, a Renault dealer's son from Dieppe, began with 4CVs in rallies and had an aluminium body by Michelotti fitted to a 4CV platform. He then asked the Chappe brothers, who had fibreglass experience, to build a similar car from 1952 Michelotti sketches. The A106 was formally launched in July 1955 and won its class in the Mille Miglia and the Tour de France as well as in many rallies.

The name Alpine came from Rédélé's Coupe des Alpes win in 1954 with a 4CV. The number 106 probably referred to his class win in the 1953 Mille Miglia at an average of 106 km/h.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The A106 kept the unmodified platform chassis and many parts of the Renault 4CV: lights, dashboard, steering wheel, pedals and seats. The windscreen came from the Renault Frégate until 1957. The first body was steel and later production bodies were polyester. Chassis numbers indicate the model year: number 1 for 1955, 2 for 1956, 3 for 1957 and so on. Cars built under licence by Gillet in Belgium differ from the French ones in having external door hinges.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Alpine A106 Level B Renault Alpine Club International (RACI) · 2008-03-26

   • Bis 1960 werden dort 251 Karosserien gefertigt
   • Von den ca. 350 Autos nur noch etwa 50 Exemplare ausfindig gemacht
   • 747 ccm Motor mit 38 PS
   • Verdichtung von 9:1
   • unveränderten Plattformrahmen
   • Radstand von 2'100 mm
   • Länge von 3,70 m
   • 1,45 m breit
   • 1,27 m hoch
   • 500 kg leichte Sportwagen

   Accessed 2026-11-13