Alpine A220

The Alpine A220 was a sports prototype built by the French maker Alpine in 1968 to race in the three-litre class, above all at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Its engine was a Renault Gordini T62 90 degree V8 of 2,996 cc, mounted in the middle of the car, which Gordini made by combining two 1.5-litre four-cylinder engines. With four Weber carburettors it produced 310 bhp, about 231 kW. The car had a steel tubular spaceframe, a fibreglass body, double wishbone suspension, a ZF five-speed gearbox and a quoted weight of 680 kg, and one source gives a top speed of 330 km/h. Ultimatecarpage.com records eight built. Its chassis and body were adopted from the smaller A210 and adapted to take the heavier, wider engine. The car proved underpowered for its class and oversteered at speed. Four A220s started the 1968 Le Mans race and only one, driven by Andre de Cortanze and Jean Vinatier, finished, in eighth place overall. No A220 finished in 1969, and the project was ended at the close of that year.