Descrição
For sale in our forthcoming auction 'Retromobile the Official Sale', on 2 February 2024 :
French title
Chassis no. 16732
Body no. 2622
Engine type 807-25; engine no. 0049
- Rare 1600S supplied new in orange!
- In the same ownership since 1997
- Recent work by a specialist
- Ordered new by Georges Bourdillat
- No reserve
Alpine's flagship model, the 1600 first appeared at the 1968 Paris Motor Show. An 'S' ('Special') version was soon produced, powered by the Renault 12 Gordini's 138bhp (SAE) engine. This type 1600VB (1600S) berlinette was delivered on 23 April 1970, finished in Alpine orange (colour no. 12). It had the chassis number 16732 and body number 2622, as Alpine's sales records confirm. It was priced at 28, 714 francs, excluding the commission of the sales agent (the Renault garage in Boulogne-Billancourt), giving a net price to the buyer of about 33, 800 francs; the basic price of the 1970 model was 30, 400 francs, so it had about 3400 francs' worth of options, which was quite high.
Its first owner was M. Georges Bourdillat, who lived on the rue Victor Hugo in Boulogne-Billancourt; born in Neuilly in 1946, he was just 24. He registered his berlinette on 28 April 1970 as 8522 BA 92.
Bourdillat's life was short (he died aged 36) but well-filled, as he had a passion for cars and took part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times, from 1976-1980, driving RSR and 934 Porsches! He finished four times: in 1976 (17th), 1978 (unplaced), 1979 (16th overall and 2nd in group 4) and 1980 (24th overall and 2nd in group 4).
It has not been possible to ascertain for how long Bourdillat used his orange berlinette: he died suddenly in a motorbike accident on the road in the Yvelines on 11 June 1983. Due to a gap in the historical records, 16732 next appeared in January 1988, with the number 1320 MQ 07, in the Ardèche, a department where Alpine's cars had often shone in rallies. Then, in April 1991, it returned to the Paris region when M. Boussard acquired it and registered it as 7497 WY 78. Finally, in December 1997, it was bought by its current owner, a rally enthusiast who kept it alongside his Lancia Stratos, and registered as 130 MFE 75. It has been an object of passion ever since, with the same family for 26 years ...
16732 is now Alpine blue, like many of its peers. It is equipped with flat wings, Gotti 073R wheels and a high-level radiator air intake, giving it the appearance of the works berlinettas entered in the World Rally Championship. It has a removable rear valance, from the final 1600SC or SX models.
Crucially, the three identification plates are present in the front boot, attached with their original rivets. We can therefore state that it is the original body of 16732 from the period, a key point in the world of Alpine's berlinettes.
The 353-type gearbox was rebuilt about ten years ago by DMT, who worked exclusively on Alpine transmissions. More recently, last summer, extensive work (representing 172 hours of labour) was carried out by a specialist from Avignon: the front suspension and cooling system were completely stripped down, while the engine was uprated to 1596cc and given a major overhaul with a full strip-down and a replacement camshaft.
It has these options: a large front-mounted manolene fuel tank with a quick-release filler cap, works-type bucket seats, a four-point roll cage, a group 4-type breather tank and a Devil-type 4 into 1 exhaust manifold. The electrical system has been modified to add fuses under the dashboard as well as a cut-out switch.
It should be noted that some parts are not original: the Moto-Lita steering wheel, the window winders and interior door handles from a final-generation model, the centre-mounted hydraulic handbrake with a brake balance control, the absence of any headlining and the presence inside the car of the heating pipes, which should be encased in the centre tunnel. Finally, the aluminium strip around the rear screen is missing.
Its attractively patinated paintwork shows the passage of time and the use the car has seen; as it is, 16732 will allow its new owner to enjoy it for pleasure or on regularity rallies, before considering having it repainted and hopefully returning it to its magnificent and unusual shade of orange.
Gilles Vallerian
Elève expert auprès de la Chambre Nationale des experts spécialisés
