19 replies to this topic

[dmj]

Alpine-Renaults were made in Bulgaria for several years, I'm sure about A110 in both berlinetta and open top versions (but I found some info that these actually were A108, in only berlinetta version). Any more info about them? How many were built (my sources say 200), in what period (1968-1970?)? Did Bulgarian or other Eastern European drivers ever used them in competition? I know that in 80s a Bulgarian rally driver won several rallies in European championship but his name escapes me at the moment. Anyway, he drove a Renault 5 Turbo, so I can presume that he started his connection with Renault earlier and maybe used an Alpine. A Croatian driver, Jovica Palikovic, also drove an A110 but his was made in France...

[anjakub]

The best Bulgarian rally driver, who drove Bulgaralpine was Ilia Czubrikov.

[Geza Sury]

Hungarian rally driver Attila Ferjáncz drove different types of Renaults throughout his carrier, a Renault A110 Alpine amongst them. If that particular car was made in Bulgaria or not, I can't say. He started his carrier as a Renault driver in an R8 Gordini and finished it in an R5 Turbo. I'll give you full details when I get home this evening.

[dmj]

Some other notable bulgarian rally drivers: Stoyan Kolev, Radislav Petkov. Most of them drove Renaults, but I don't know about A110. Here is link to complete history of YU Rally, main Yugoslavian rally event back then and a part of European championship in most years. http://www.autosport...1/istorijat.htm These results include many Bulgarian and other Eastern European drivers but also some all-time greats. Cars are also interesting (a Wartburg earned points for European championship as late as 1989, for example...)

[Rainer Nyberg]

A total of 3500 Bulgarrenaults were assembled between 1967 and 1971 in Plovdiv.
I don't have a specific figure for the Bulgaralpine. The models assembled were R8 and R10 apart from the A110 (A108?) both open top and coupé versions.

[Geza Sury]

Great link, dmj! I was deligted to discover some of my fellow Hungarian's names on the list including the above mentioned Attila Ferjáncz, who won in 1981.

Unfortunately I didn't manage to find anything about his Alpine A110, but I suspect it had been built in France, not in Bulgaria.

[Rainer Nyberg]

Yes nice link, it was new to me to realize that a Saab 96 was raced by a Yugoslav crew in 1971.

The 'ALEKO Rally' seen in the '90 and '91 results, is it actually an Moskvitch (2141?) ?

[Rainer Nyberg]

Contrary to the R8 and R10 which were assembled only from supplied kits, the Bulgaralpine body was actually moulded in Bulgaria.

[anjakub]

Yes, Rainer, ALEKO Rally is Moskvitch.

Homologation FIA
AZLK 2141 ALEKO RALLY 1568,5 cc
Group A, No 5361
Debut 01.04.1988
Ends homologation 2002 (!)


Geza,
In 1981 YU Rally won Blazej Krupa with codriver Piotr Mystkowski (polish crew on Renault 5 Alpine). Attila Ferjancz was the fastest in 1980. The best Hungarian rally driver won Polski Rally in 1987, of course, with Janos Tandari (Audi Coupe Quattro). In this main Polish rally event Krupa was only second (1974 - Renault 12 Gordini).

[Geza Sury]

You're totally right Andrzej. Krupa and Ferjancz were great opponents for many years. BTW Ferjancz in these days is the chairman of the Hungarian Motorsport Association. Sadly Janos Tandari died last year at the age of 60.

[Frank de Jong]

My Alpine bible (in French, "Alpine Label Bleu", by Christian Descombes) has a short section on foreign (non-French) Alpines.
Some 200 engines (1108 cc) were exported from France, so the book states that theoretically 200 Bulgaralpines were made, all of A110 type, between 1967 and 1970. Some were used for Rally's, such as the 1969 Mont Carlo.
Alpines were also made in Brasil, Spain, Mexico and Belgium.

[Yorgos]

I remember that Bulgarian rally drivers driving Bulgaralpines were competing in Greek rallies in the early 70's. Sorry I cant give any specific data at the moment.

Yorgos

[dmj]

Good racing cars were in such a short supply in Eastern bloc at the time so I'm pretty much surprised that I haven't seen Bugaralpines in competition even when ten years old. They could be very competitive up to the 80s, especially regarding what cars were raced. So their omission, or short racing life, always surprised me.

[Rainer Nyberg]

This link http://www.motorlege..._1/alpine26.php says that all Bulgaralpines were A110 Berlinette's with 1108 cc engines. 200 built between 1968-70.

Production was also undertaken in Mexico (300 A110 with 956cc engines), Brazil and Spain.

[ferdi]

1973 Rallye Tatry

29 - Radoslav Petkov - Kostadin Gurlev BG Bulgaralpine, licence-plate:Сз А 6000


23 - Kiril Mihaylov - Alexander Nenov BG Bulgaralpine

[ferdi]

Originally posted by Geza Sury
Unfortunately I didn't manage to find anything about his Alpine A110, but I suspect it had been built in France, not in Bulgaria.

Attila Ferjáncz Renault Alpine 110 1800 - ex works 9846 HL 76


1973 Rajd Polski, Therier-Mahé

Hungarian licence-plate: AU 76-83







Ferjáncz used this Berlinette in 1974, 75 in Hungarian Hill Climb and Rallye Championship and European Rallye Championship.
First rallye was Elba 74, next 8th YU Rallye(big crash).
Co driver was Jenő Zsenbery.

[ferdi]

Originally posted by anjakub
In 1981 YU Rally won Blazej Krupa with codriver Piotr Mystkowski (polish crew on Renault 5 Alpine).

15th YU Rallye 27th-29th March 1981

Krupa won with Renault 5 Turbo

1 - Blazej Krupa - Pavel Mystkovski Renault 5 Turbo


1 Blazej Krupa/Pavel Mystkovski Renault 5 Turbo
2 Attila Ferjancz/Janos Tandari Renault 5 Alpine
3 Borko Skuric/Miroljub Kujbuš Opel Ascona
4 Dieter Heinburger/Frank Topfer Wartburg 353
5 Branislav Kizmic/Branislav Bastar Renault 5 Alpine
6 Drago Zonta/Marjan Rupnik Zastava 101
7 Dieter Kruegel/Wolfgang Kruegel Wartburg 353
8 Dagmar Šuster/Janez Urbancic Zastava 101
9 Milan Krstovic/Tanasije Pejovic Zastava 101
10 Borut Tomic/Ivo Tomljenovic Zastava 101

[Steffe Ornerdal]

Really nice pic's, ferdi, thanks and welcome to TNF!

[GrzegorzChyla]

Originally posted by ferdi

15th YU Rallye 27th-29th March 1981

Krupa won with Renault 5 Turbo

1 - Blazej Krupa - Pavel Mistkovski Renault 5 Turbo

Please note that Piotr Mystkowski is the correct name of Błażej Krupa's codriver.

[Leigh Trevail]

Slightly off topic, I took this picture in February 1990 at Cluj, Romania. I assumed that it was a locally made Dacia, although I may be wrong.