Introduced at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, the Alpine A310 arrived as the intended successor to the legendary A110 Berlinette. The first-series four-cylinder cars, produced through 1976, are frequently overlooked in favour of the later V6 generation — yet they carry the purest expression of Alpine's original design language, including the Marcello Gandini-influenced wrap-around rear glasshouse that defines the car's silhouette. This Norev die-cast, dated 1974, documents that first generation in the VF specification at 1:18 scale.
Fibreglass, Backbone, Four Cylinders
The A310's structure follows the classic Alpine formula: a steel backbone chassis clothed in a fibreglass polyester-resin body, keeping the kerb weight to approximately 970 kg. Power comes from a Renault-sourced 1647 cc inline-four derived from the Renault 16 TS unit, mounted in the rear and driving the rear wheels. The VF designation identifies the later, refined four-cylinder specification built from around 1973 to 1976, when production handed over to the V6-engined car.
A Period Colour in Its Natural Decade
Alpine offered the A310 from launch in a palette of vivid tones consistent with early-1970s European GT fashion. Orange was among the authentic period options, sitting alongside other bold hues that reflected the confident styling of French performance cars at the time. This 1974-dated example carries no competition markings: it is a standard road specification, making the colour itself the primary visual statement. Placed alongside contemporaneous Renault models, the Orange finish reads immediately as a document of its era.
The 1:18 Scale Model: Norev in Die-Cast
Norev is a French manufacturer with a long heritage of producing Renault and Alpine models, which lends particular authenticity to this release. The A310 1600 VF is reproduced in die-cast metal at 1:18 — a scale that allows the distinctive rear glasshouse and Gandini-influenced roofline to read clearly, details that are difficult to appreciate at smaller scales such as 1:43. The Orange livery is applied to a body that faithfully follows the first-series profile.
In the Display Cabinet
At 1:18, the A310 1600 VF is a model that stands out on the shelf and rewards close inspection of its glasshouse detailing. First-series four-cylinder cars are less common in model form than the V6 generation, making this Norev a genuine gap-filler in an Alpine-focused collection. Natural companions include the Alpine A110 Berlinette in 1:18 or 1:43, and contemporaneous Renault road cars from the early 1970s. Collectors building a chronological Alpine sequence will find the 1974 date anchors this piece squarely in the four-cylinder era.
