French classics for Shannons Melbourne Winter Auction

The most intriguing, and one that's likely to be a big seller, too, is a rare Renault Alpine A110.

Based on Renault power trains, Jean Rédélé's little Alpine sports coupes are regarded as some of the greatest rally cars of all time, with the A110 model dominating the international stage in the 1960s and early 1970s, before the arrival of all-wheel-drive WRC cars.

Australian Rally Champion Bob Watson drove an A110 to victory in the inaugural Don Capasco Rally in Canberra in 1974.

Believed originally to be a 'lightweight competition cliente' 1300S model dating from 1972, the Alpine A110 being auctioned by Shannons was one of a pair imported from New Caledonia in 1991.

It was painstakingly restored for the current owner by marque specialist Colin Stark's Alpine Affaire over a 14-year period. In the process, it was converted to right-hand drive and the original and very rare Gotti rims were painstakingly brought back to as-new condition, too. The restoration discovered to have a works lightweight tarmac specification chassis and competition lightweight fibreglass shell.

The ravages of time and the harsh New Caledonian conditions meant the shell was beyond repair, so Stark fabricated a new body using his own ex-works Group 4 A110 as a mould and mounted it onto the restored chassis.

During the restoration, the Alpine's mid-mounted 1296cc Renault engine was enlarged to 1550cc, via a special head with bigger valves and a rally camshaft along with twin 45DCOE Webers. Producing a claimed 155hp at 7000 rpm, the enlarged engine is mated to a close-ratio five-speed gearbox with a Hewland locking diff.

Appropriately, given its history, the A110 has been set-up for competition work, with a half-cage, Cibie spotlights, a 80-litre competition bladder tank, Monte Carlo brakes and Perspex side and rear screens, with a Terratrip completing the period feel.

Finished in the works French blue/white/red colour scheme, the Alpine is eligible for local and International classic rallies, where its power and weight of just 615 kilograms will make it an exciting performer.

Shannons are expecting this exciting, superbly detailed, and highly collectable French sporting classic to sell in the $90,000-$120,000 range.

Another quirky and rare French model consigned for the July 21 auction is a 1960 Citroen ID19 'Goddess'. A recent show-winner, the ID19 is expected to sell in the $15,000-$20,000 bracket, while another Frenchman, in the form of a 1948 Citroen Light 15 'Traction Avant' sedan, carries a pre-auction estimate of $16,000-$24,000. Both cars come from a Citroen enthusiast's collection.

Shannons Melboune Winter Classsic Auction takes place on Monday, 21st July, at Shannons' Melbourne auction rooms, 321 Warrigal Rd, Cheltenham.

For more details, and to find out more about Shannons' online bidding option introduced earlier this year, go to www.shannons.com.au