1989 Renault Alpine GTA Turbo – Classified of the Week

There are some cars that are sensible, like the Vauxhall Carlton, and then there are some cars that are just off the wall bonkers, like this Renault Alpine. Droop-snoot looks, engine in the back, a thumping great turbocharger, flared arches and more presence than a nightclub bouncer, this is one serious bit of kit. It might only be producing 200bhp from its 2.5 litre V6, but that’s enough for the rear wheels of a lightweight car. 

The GTA was the first car to be launched by Alpine under the Renault name. Of course, there had been a long-standing link between the two for many years before, with cars like the A110 and the car which the GTA effectively replaced, the A310. While Alpine had done its own thing in the early days, it did so with lots of Renault parts. In the 1970s, the relationship was cemented after Renault bought it. It would be the performance arm, the experimental and development side of Renault, where cars would be built for the joy of it, rather than to meet sales targets. 

The Renault Alpine GTA was and still is a curious beast. It looks like nothing else, and it drives in a unique way, too. You have to learn how the power comes in, you have to get used to the weight of the engine being in the back, and you have to get used to the kick of speed when the blower spools up. You might argue that it’s no different than driving a 911, but it is. The 911 is, shall we say, more refined and resolved than the Alpine. 

Being a 1989 model, this one was built toward the end of the GTA’s production run (in 1991, it was replaced by the A610). While we also love that later model, for us, this 1989 shape is the one to have. We like it’s angry face. 

This particular car, finished in black with matching (and sumptuous looking) black leather trim, sits on a stunning set of Azev alloy wheels and as such, looks the part. It also looks, in the best possible way, quite sinister. Road rage from other motorists won’t be an issue with this – they’ll be too scared of it! 

Despite only covering 54k, the car was restored in 2016. The engine was rebuilt, the turbo was rebuilt and the suspension was refurbished as was the cooling system. The underbody was restored and extensively rust-proofed, securing its future on the road and the whole thing is now ready for a new owner. 

Make no mistake, the Renault Alpine GTA is not a car for the shy and retiring types. It’s a big, brash, ‘in your face’ machine that will be on the receiving end of a great deal of attention. But let’s face it, as fans of classic cars, we like a bit of that, don’t we?