Bring A Trailer auction preview: Comprehensively and expensively built into Group 4 Rally specifications, known competition history back to 1996.1970 Renault Alpine A110Chassis No. – 16697Exterior Color – French Blue and OrangeInterior Color – BlackEngine – 1.6-liter Renault Gordini inline four cylinderTransmission – 4-speed manualCurrent Miles – Racecar miles unknownHistory of Renault AlpineWhen Jean Redele founded Societe des Automobiles Alpine SAS in 1955 there was little indication that this charming startup might eventually become one of the most successful independent sports car manufacturers and a formidable force in rally racing. Though closely paired with Renault cars and favored by Renault for the obvious performance exposure, Alpine operated independently until it was purchased by Renault in 1973 and eventually merged with Renault Sport in 1976.Alpine developed earlier cars with the Renault 4CV engine but gradually advanced to the A106 penned by Giovanni Michelotti. Later still the A108 and eventually the A110 emerged as the dominant production article offered as both street and race versions. All new and far more advanced, the A110 featured R8 mechanicals and a new chassis. Rally successes, hill climbs, and ice racing victories established the A110 as an iconic sports car through the 1960s benefiting greatly from specially built competition cars fitted with twin-cam Renault R8 Gordini engines.History of this AlpineThis Alpine was purchased by the current family owners in 2012. At the time of purchase, the car was located in Spain, finished in the current rally-base livery. The former owner, professional Spanish soccer goalie and rally race car driver Santiago Canizares Ruiz, enjoyed playing in three World Cups as well as winning a Gold Medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. His notable and productive career as a soccer goalie included playing an astonishing 500 games. In 2010, after his soccer retirement, he began his second career in rally racing with the Suzuki Iberica Motor Sport Team. In 2017 he scored his first victory winning the Rally de la Ceramica in a Porsche 997 and was subsequently crowned Valencian Community Champion.According to ownership records accompanying the car, Ruiz purchased the car in 2010 from German rally race car driver and enthusiast Werner Fahnert, who had owned the car since 1995 and applied the racing livery to the car for vintage racing events. Copies of 1995 FIA papers accompanying the car identify it as an A110 1600 Alpine with a 1605 engine. At that time, the car was finished in silver and appeared to be prepared for street use, but later modified for rally events. Photos accompanying the car show it in silver with race livery and flared fenders (lesser profile than currently on the car) and later wearing the current livery participating in further vintage rally events under Fahnert’s ownership.Under current ownership spanning 2012-2024 extensive engineering/design and mechanical work has been performed on a cost no object basis by top race professionals in preparation for vintage racing events. As part of a significant motorsports and vintage sports car racing collection, the family engaged racing experts who contributed custom suspension engineering, chassis reinforcement drawings, new A-arm designs, as well as top-tier vendors to build special parts including a custom radiator, custom heat exchanger, specially built caliper mounts, new front and rear plexiglass screens, Penske racing shocks (valved to match Eibach springs), new steering arms, custom brake rotors, extensive specialty Alpine parts, and numerous stainless, aluminum and raw materials for frame and suspension construction. Perhaps the most significant effort was building a highly refined race engine with dyno testing and several iterative steps to be sure the right combination was achieved. Among the many processes used during the build, ceramic seal for the twin cam head, line honing, installation of specialized rods and mains, high angularity rod ends, custom heat-treated pushrods, custom camshafts, Tri-Y race headers with special mandrel formed bends, specialized intake plenums, and a Ford ECM racing harness. During the build, the engine builder purchased eight new heads, experimenting with each one to find the right balance for the performance they were seeking.Between February and April 2024, the car was serviced including intake and exhaust valve adjustment, front bump steer adjustment, ride height settings, dyno testing for the engine (three times at different build points) and adjustments for the rear ride height (custom made spring spacers) to eliminate oil pan torque contact on acceleration, adjustment for the fuel injection linkage and fuel pump timing, setting the throttle body, installing new spark plugs, installing a new battery, and new front wheel bearings.In hopes of having the car completed to participate in the 2024 Monterey weekend, the current owner reports "In our haste to complete the car in time for the Monterey Historics, the team had little time for a more proper shake-down prior to the event. While driving the car in the first practice session, the gear lever had play, the steering had little self-centering, the mirrors were not positioned in an ideal location, and the brake pedal felt soft. The car would greatly benefit from a dedicated test and tune day to work these issues out, and subsequently have the suspension properly tuned. I will say that the motor felt strong, it sounded great, and the acceleration was very impressive."Current ConditionToday this Renault Alpine presents as a thoughtfully prepared vintage race car with mechanical integrity and exterior cosmetics consistent with vintage race cars of this period. The French blue paint is accented by vivid white, black, and orange graphics which create a striking visual statement. The fiberglass body panels exhibit generally good fit and finish throughout the extremely low body lines and luridly wide fender flares. A clear plexiglass windscreen and rear panel blend into the aerodynamic body surfaces for excellent visual flow and air management. The multi-piece wheels are currently shod with Avon race tires and finished with polished aluminum rims and matching orange centers. Competition touches include wide profile fender flares, properly braced roll bar, dual racing mirrors, fire suppression system, and molded-in accessory driving lights.The cockpit is tidy and outfitted with typical though contemporary instrumentation mounted in the dashboard, a modern molded racing seat, and a competition five-point harness. The interior delivers a purposeful no-frills, ready for action presentation combining lightweight aluminum and fiberglass construction. Cohesively prepared and properly set up for racing, this Alpine has an impressive visually engaging presence backed by an astonishing level of mechanical preparation.Raising the rear engine lid, the robust twin cam engine is an impressive sight. Leveraging the highly effective suspension improvements to the Renault platform, the tubular frame combined with contemporary engineering and refined structural construction are impressive. The race-prepped Gordini twin-cam engine, fuel-injection and intake trumpets flank the opposite side of the tuned mandrel formed exhaust and compact muffler nestled under the rear body panel. The underside reveals further details of the lightweight construction and componentry developed and constructed over the past decade of craftsmanship on this Alpine. This Renault Alpine presents an excellent opportunity to acquire a professionally prepared example with former unique celebrity ownership and Group 4 rally features. With so much important and valuable work already performed, this Alpine offers a significant time and preparation lead over lesser examples.Although this car has been recently prepared for racing and participated in racing events this year, we highly recommend a professional shop with racing car prep history inspect this car and properly prepare it before use in a competition setting. Items Included with this CarThis Alpine is accompanied by copies of historic ownership documentation dating back to 1995, service records and technical notations for engine specs, cam timing, technical details, and reference information on prior celebrity ownership. Please note – this is a competition car specifically built for closed course racing and not for street use. It is sold on Bill of Sale only.