First model badged Renault Sport, the Spider could have been sold at Alpine… if the Dieppe brand had not been “buried” in the early 1990s. But an owner of this French roadster decided to transform it for the make it even more worthy to display this prestigious logo.
Applying Alpine logos to a Renault Sport Spider? Some purists might take offense to this, but Christian Escourbiac fully accepts this modification made in 2020. “While the Spider was born under the Renault Sport coat of arms, it is a project designed and developed in the Alpine era” recalls this coachbuilder-designer-preparer, creator of the company ACE Héritage. Manufactured in small series at the historic Dieppe plant, this mid-rear engine windshieldless roadster is indeed appeared the day after the mothballing of the brand created by Jean Rédélé. After the failure of the A610, Losange decided to replace it with an internal sports department, which was already successfully competing. Then he did the exact opposite in 2021, this time sacrificing Renault Sport in favor of Alpine Cars.
Aesthetic similarities with the current A110
It was on the occasion of this reversal in history that Christian decided to put Alpine badges on his Spider. A label all the more legitimate in his eyes as his copy has undergone many aesthetic transformations since he bought it new, in 1996.
““When I see the A110 and what I’ve done on my Spider, there are similarities. We are relatively close to the DNA and the respect of the lines”, explains Christian.“
The resemblance is accentuated by the original blue color, which has been revisited thanks to his talents as a coachbuilder. “It’s a very high-end paint that I applied. I took over all the lines of light from the vehicle because it was made a little by hand », says Christian. The reflections visible in the photos are there to attest to the work done.
A look inspired by the Ferrari Monza SP1
If the general silhouette of the Spider remains recognizable, other aesthetic changes are obvious. This is the case of the arch separating the two passengers as on the Concept S derived from the Lamborghini Gallardo, the double boss behind the seats or the completely redesigned windscreen. Modified practically from the new purchase, the look was entitled to an “update” in 2020, drawing inspiration in particular from the very exclusive Ferrari Monza SP1 barquette. Pieces were then entirely developed and created by Christian, whose company ACE Héritage, based near Lyon, is one of the French referents for the maintenance and restoration of the Spider. The result impressed one of his clients so much that he asked for a quote to be able to enjoy the same transformations. A “twin brother” could therefore well see the light of day in the future.
A Spider that has known several lives
On the other hand, after having quickly received a preparation at 350 hp thanks to the addition of a turbo, then a biturbo V6 from Safrane, the ” Alpine Spider » has become much wiser with age. It returned some time ago to an original 2.0 naturally aspirated engine, similar to that found in the Clio Williams and Mégane 1 Coupé. It can thus only count today on 150 hp, while waiting to pick up a four-cylinder 2.0 turbo from Mégane RS Cup. For the moment, we are therefore far from the 252 to 300 hp offered by the current A110. But remember that the Renault roadster is a little lighter than the modern berlinetta. Even if, at the time, it was a little disappointed on this point against the formidable Lotus Elise, it remained under the bar of the ton thanks to its stripped interior and its aluminum structure. And what about the unique sensations of driving in the open air, especially in this version without windscreen?
A special A110 in preparation
With its Spider badged Alpine, ACE Héritage thus repairs in a way the absence of any version discoverable on the second generation of A110. But all hope may not be lost for the latter. Christian bought a copy especially for develop carbon accessories and radical transformation, confiding in our ears that he “love the concept of the convertible and the Spider”. So it’s a pretty crazy new project that seems to be taking shape. You can already follow its progress on the ACE Heritage Facebook page, and you might hear about it on The argus when it is further finalized.
If you are interested in Christian’s work and would like to use his services, you can follow him on the Facebook page ofACE Legacy and contact him by phone on 06 67 75 19 18 or by email at: au.car.restoration@gmail.com.
TO READ. Renault Sport saga: the history of road models from 1995 to 2021
