1972 ALPINE 1600 VC GROUP 3 "customer competition" ex-Jacques HENRY

The Alpine 1600S (type VC), serial number 18223, body number 6092, left Dieppe on November 24, 1972.
Type VC was homologated in 1972, and was a series of 1600S berlinettes powered by the R17's 1605cc engine, rather than the R12 Gordini's 1565cc (Alpine 1600VB). In fact, this series, which exceeded the 1600cc limit, enabled the 1800cc engine to be homologated in Group 4, which would enable the Alpine brand to become the first World Rally Champion in 1973!

ALPINE 1600VC SERIE 18223

18223 was built on the series line because it appears in the "series" archives, not in Gilbert Harivel's competition archives, the copy of the list of the chief mechanic of the racing department, Jacques Cheinisse's right-hand man, being kept by the author, and 18223 not appearing in it. It is, however, a special order of a "group 3" model, which needs to be explained.
A customer could order from Alpine a strictly standard berlinette, or a groupe 3 (standard Grand Tourisme), or a groupe 4 (special GT). In the latter two cases, the car was fitted with the options that were essential or authorized in each of the groups defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
Group 3 corresponded to a strictly production car, but some options were necessary: roll bar, circuit breaker, etc. Others were useful: long spans, bucket seat, heated windscreen, harness, short gearbox, etc.
As the 18223 was ordered as a Group 3, it was equipped with a good number of options. It also received the large "364" type 01 gearbox, i.e. with rally gearing, 8x27 torque. The engine is listed in the archives as type 844.32 (displacement 1605cc) and marked P for prepared. In fact, there may have been a preparation for Group 3, which consisted of careful assembly and perfect balancing, as everything else had to be standard.
It also says: "165x13 tires, Autobleu exhaust".
Last but not least, as we'll see later: color ORANGE (number 12 on the paint plate).
It was therefore delivered on November 24, 1972 in Besançon.
The first owner was company director Marc GATEZ from Besançon. As confirmed by the Archives Départementales du Doubs, he registered 18223 on December 26, 1972 under number 4800 QK 25. There's a slight error on the registration card, which shows type 1600VB and not VC!
Marc GATEZ was a friend and occasional co-driver of the great Alpine driver Jacques HENRY from Lure (70), as confirmed by the latter's son, Patrick HENRY, who was himself a French Rally Champion like his father.

DISCUSSION OF 18223'S PARTICIPATION IN THE MONTE CARLO RALLY:

The 1973 Monte Carlo Rally is the first round of the World Championship and takes place from January 19 to 26. Alpine is out in force with 5 factory cars. Jacques Henry, from Lure in the Haute Saône, a talented private driver with limited means, couldn't hope to win the scratch race. But he can shine by winning Group 3, and the Berlinette is just the car for the job!
So he entered the race under number 33, with a 1600S bearing the number 790 HQ 70.
This Alpine with this registration had the serial number 17953 and was launched on May 16, 1972, also delivered to Besançon in the Doubs region of France.
registration number 919 QH 25. On January 18, 1973, the day before the start of the Rallye, Jacques Henry, who had bought the car, registered it in his name and at his address on Route de Belfort in Lure. It was given the number 790 HQ 70. Importantly, it is Alpine blue.

On January 19, he arrives in Reims, the starting point for the concentration stage of the famous French race, 350 kilometers from his home.
As can be seen from the photos, the berlinette is blue, with the sponsor's letters in orange.

The question then arises: is it on 17953 or 18223, the latter having taken over 17953's identity for the occasion?
Indeed, 18223 has long been credited with taking part in the 1973 Monte Carlo Rally with Henry.

ELEMENTS SUPPORTING 18223'S PARTICIPATION IN MC 73:

- the 790 HQ 70 plate painted on the rear appeared on the car (not checked by the author)
- Jacques Henry would have told the current owner that he had used this Alpine at the Monte Carlo.
- As the Alpine was registered in December 1972, time was short to obtain a competition passport.
- the car is a "customer" Group 3, and was brand-new
- an Alpine document would indicate that it had competed in the 1973 Monte Carlo with Henry, but this document was not made available to us.
ELEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE REAL 17953'S PARTICIPATION IN MC 73:

- this Alpine 17953 was registered by J. Henry in his name on the eve of the Rally, and was almost new, being 8 months old.
- Henry's Monte Carlo Alpine was fitted with a roll bar that did not come from Alpine, but was an accessory manufacturer's roll bar with the crossbar reversed in relation to a "factory" roll bar, while 18223, a Group 3 customer, was fitted with a roll bar from the factory, of which only one model existed in Dieppe.
- 17953 was sold in May 1973 to Monsieur Jean Pierre Gauthier of Bouches du Rhône by Jacques Henry, who told him it was the car for MC 73. Jean Pierre Gauthier, who has kept the car until 2021, recently confirmed this to us verbally. Furthermore, an article on amateur racer JP Gauthier in Echappement magazine, issue 106, August 1977, cites the fact that "in 1973 he bought the Alpine 1600S that had just won Group 3 from Jacques Henry".
- finally, 17953 is blue, while 18223 is orange, as evidenced by its paint plate numbered 12 (orange color) and the original orange underneath in certain areas of the trunk.
This would mean that the car, which came out new in orange at the end of November, was repainted in blue before mid-January, except for the letters Christine Laure, which would have remained orange, and then repainted again in orange after the Monte Carlo rally!
Indeed, as you can see from the attached photo, we have found an entry by Jacques Henry in the Lyon Charbonnières rally, which took place from March 9 to 11, 1973. Alpine 18223, bearing its "legitimate" registration number 4800 QK 25, is orange... His co-driver is Marc Gatez, the car's owner. At the Monte Carlo Rally, Jacques Henry's co-driver was Dominique Thiry.
For 18223 to have taken part in the Monte Carlo with the identity of 17953, it would have had to be painted blue for the Monte Carlo, then repainted orange for the Lyon Charbonnières, which took place 5 weeks later... Note that covering didn't exist at the time!
This seems unlikely.
In addition, the current owner of 17953 is legally entitled to claim his car's history at Monte Carlo 1973, since it was indeed the 790 HQ 70 registration number 17953 that was on Henry's car at Monte Carlo.

In the end, everyone will make up their own mind after reading the above (or several readings, as these stories of racing cars are always whimsical and a little complicated, whatever the make, even the most prestigious). As Jacques Henry and Marc Gatez are deceased, as is Gilbert Harivel, the chief mechanic of the racing department, it is impossible to have their testimonies.
Back to the competition: Jacques Henry had a magnificent rally in Monte Carlo, finishing 23rd at the end of the shared route and managing to gain a place during the supplementary route (the famous Turini night). Henry and Thiry finish 22nd and first in Group 3, with the brand making it a hat-trick at the top with Andruet/Andersson/Nicolas.

790 HQ 70 appears again at the Ronde de Serre Chevalier just after the Monte Carlo Rally, still blue, bearing the Monte Carlo decoration, Henry finishes 9th in the ice race.

THE STORY OF 18223 CONTINUES:

So we've seen that 18223 was entered with certainty in the 1973 Lyon Charbonnières, thanks to its registration (4800 QK 25) and orange color. This major international event starts from the Hockenheim circuit in Germany. It takes place on two circuits (the German one and Dijon) over a distance of 2,000 kilometers between Stuttgart and Charbonnières near Lyon! Classic special stages are on the program: Moulinon Antraigues, Burzet, Saint Pierre d'Entremont, La Féclaz, saint Jean en Royans...
Jacques Henry, after the 1973 Monte Carlo, had decided to suspend his rallying activities to devote himself to circuit racing on a Lola T290 proto. He nevertheless entered the Lyon Charbo on 18223, with his owner Marc Gatez as co-driver. His Group 3 rivals included an up-and-coming youngster, Bruno Saby, on a berlinette from the Echappement stable; Jacques Régis, also on an Alpine; Gedehem, on a Porsche 911 S; Roger Valet on a berlinette... in short, all very good drivers! Despite this, Jacques Henry brilliantly won Group 3, taking 7th place overall, behind Fiorentino, Piot, Chasseuil, Larousse, Wolleck...
Behind him, in 10th place and second in Group 3, Bruno Saby showed the qualities that would make him the champion he is today.

18223 clearly no longer appears in competition. On April 24, 1974, it was sold to the AUTO CENTER garage in Besançon, which, as Patrick Henry told us, employed Henry's mechanic. A month later, the car was resold and left the Doubs for the Rhône. It was registered 7338 FJ 69 on May 15, the owner being unknown due to the destruction of the archives of the prefecture of this department.
On January 13, 1975, it was acquired by Patrick Florange of Gaillard (Haute Savoie), who registered it 7899 QS 74 in the name of Marie Noëlle Missilier. Florange entered 18223 in numerous events: in 1975, Neige et Glace with Missilier as co-driver (46th and 11th in the group), Course de côte de Chanaz, Rallye du Var (8th gr3)... In 1976, the Vercors Vivarais rally, in 1977, the Rallye du Mont Blanc (8th gr3) and the Praille slalom in Switzerland.
Note that 18223 was always entered in Group 3, and did not undergo the classic Group 4 modifications, such as wide fenders...

On February 17, 1978, it was acquired by its current owner, who registered it 9128 QS 01. He kept it for only 3 years, selling it to a man named Buff...who sold it back to him in 2003! The current owner has therefore owned this berlinetta for 23 years, but in two installments...
This berlinette is a genuine Group 3 competition customer (a rare model, in other words), as the Alpine archives attest. What's more, it took part in at least one major event with Jacques Henry, the future 1974 French Rally Champion and certainly the best private Alpine driver. The Stuttgart Lyon Charbonnières rally saw the Lure driver win the Group 3 category.
As for 18223's participation in the 1973 Monte Carlo Rally with Henry, there is still some doubt, as mentioned above.
Finally, with Patrick Florange, it took part in other important events: Var, Vercors Vivarais, Neige et Glace, Mont Blanc...
In short, with or without Monte Carlo, a fine record of achievements corresponding to the golden age of French rallying!

Gilles VALLERIAN
Student expert with the National Chamber of Specialized Experts