Description
The Car
This is a very special A110: Dieppe built V85 with fantastic history, presented in exceptional just restored condition, with a desirable Gordini powertrain.
Subject to A ground-up restoration commissioned and curated by a marque expert, collector and works car owner to create the ultimate in road-going A110s which has then been further developed and refined into the ultimate expression of the A110 and the purest sports car experience for the road.
It is powered by a highly desirable and freshly rebuilt Salv Sacco 1255cc Gordini unit, breathing through Italian Weber 40DCOEs and mated to a 5-speed gearbox. This, combined with its ~700kg mass, gives spectacular performance delivered with a fizz and vigour you cannot get with a modern sports car. It makes my old Porsche 911 SC (both tuned and lightweighted) feel like a lumpen and blunt instrument compared to this featherweight scalpel. Steering is telepathic while riding on group4 springs and Spax adjustable dampers with new Blockley period tyres; all magazine article clichés and superlatives apply: See Octane issue 252 June 24 for Richard Heseltine’s words which do it more justice than I could, “spellbinding” is mentioned. Or search YouTube for Davide Cironi driving one with a breathless smile and pure joy to give you a first-hand sense. This is the greatest hits of the breed.
Modifications with choice, period and rare components abound to enhance the car: an alloy front mounted radiator with electric fan, Cibie super Oscars, a Pierre Ferry high volume sump, Momo Indy wheel, rear roll bar…the list goes on.
It’s now been subject to a comprehensive 500 mile shakedown and development and is ready to be enjoyed.
Specification & Overview
Body
Subject to an £11, 000 body and paint restoration in its original white colour
All chrome bumpers re-plated and as new
All rubber seals and aluminium trims replaced with new
Interior
Original seats in amazing condition deep cleaned and refitted
Dash and dials all cleaned and rebuilt
New, bespoke carpet throughout
New/ reconditioned door cards
Rear roll bar with provision for harnesses (correctly installed with spreader plates and 8. 8 hardware as-per MSA)
Original Momo Indy steering wheel with a lovely care-worn patina
Chassis
New bushes, ball joints and bearings throughout
All suspension components blasted and powder coated/ plated
Spax adjustable dampers
GP4 Springs
New/ rebuilt brakes (callipers, discs etc) front and rear
Gotti 5. 5” option wheels with new Blockley tyres
Powertrain
Salv Sacco rebuilt 812 1255cc Gordini engine ~500 miles
Cylinder head resin treated for porosity (a must with these engines)
Original “Bologna” marked Italian Weber DCOE 40 carburettors which have been rebuilt and set up.
Pierre Ferry high volume sump
Rebuilt 5-speed gearbox
Rear mounted oil cooler
New cooling system throughout inc. front mounted allow radiator with fan.
New ignition system throughout inc. coil, plugs, points, bespoke HT leads
Electric fuel pump
Bespoke breather system
4 branch exhaust with sports silencerBuilt in Dieppe in 1972 (an exciting place to be as the WRC was being won ‘71and ’73 by the Alpine team) the car spent it’s like in Benzons just outside Paris until 1997 when it was imported to the UK. Here is was used for a handful of Targa rallies before being retired to a barn in ~1999 where it was discovered over 20 years later and completely restored to as you see it today.
The condition and quality of the restoration and how this car presents is stunning. It won “car of show” awarded by Footman James at Chateau Impney the first time I took it to an event! It also runs, drives and performs how it looks. Unlike most A110s it’s only had a light competition history so had never been damaged of filled with holes for accessories. It’s been a well-loved road car and is ready to be enjoyed. It’s also perfect and eligible for some great competition events should you want to use it; with that Gordini powertrain it’ll be fantastically competitive. It does also come with a box of spares and original parts (inc the original French numberplate!) and of course a spare wheel with a cover which straps in the back.
The car is located in Redditch just 5 minutes from J3 of the M42. Please to call or message to discuss.
