1992 Renault A610 Alpine

Finished in Electric Blue with a special-order blue leather interior, ‘J600 TEN’ is a Renault Alpine A610 with just 3,500 miles on the odometer.

Yup, that’s right; this is probably the lowest-mileage Alpine on sale today.

In the care of the seller since 2018, it is showing just the one former UK keeper on the V5 registration document, who we understand was a Renault dealer who kept it on display in their showroom after importing it from France in 2007.

Recently serviced yet still offering the canny enthusiast the opportunity to add value with a few simple jobs, it would be ideal as the centerpiece of a discerning car collection – or you could recommission it and drive it as long and hard as the engineers who built it intended.

Either way, given the low build numbers (this is thought to be one of only 28 built in 1992) you’ll probably never see another – and we’re pretty certain you’ll never see another UK-spec Alpine A610 as original as this come up for sale in the UK again.

The seller believes the Electric Blue paintwork is still the original, which is quite something; after all, cars are only original once, and when you’ve lost that you’ve lost it forever.

That said, there is an invoices on file to say the front bumper was replaced in 2008 along with another that says the shield between the front grille and the radiator was also replaced. Two new alloy wheels were also fitted in the same year.

But none of that is to detract from the car’s originality and condition, which is little short of stunning.

The Electric Blue paintwork has an unholy shine, which is astonishing given it’s never been machine-polished; what you see is how it would have been when it left the factory.

The paintwork is bolstered by well-fitting and dink-free panels. Taken as a whole, this is a sportscar that could hold its head up in any company, including national-level classic car shows, where it would be sure to draw an awful lot of interest. (As an example of how popular it is, just take a look at the number of people who are following it on here…)

The rear screen still has what looks like the original sticker on it alongside one for the Club Alpine Renault, thereby combining originality with enthusiast ownership – and it doesn’t get much better than that, does it?

Well, apart from flawless badges, undamaged lamp lenses, headlights that still pop up and down as they should, and unsullied window glazing. Air vents and intakes and aerodynamic aids are scattered around the coachwork too, all of which are as purposeful as they are effective.

The 16-inch alloy wheels are an interesting and somewhat intricate design, and they’ve been as meticulously cared for as everything else.

They’re also fitted with a matching set of Toyo Proxes PXT1R tyres, with 205/45ZR16 fitted to the front and 245/45ZR16 on the rear. All four tyres have plenty of tread left on them, but they were fitted in 2012.

Nonetheless, we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The Alpine’s got a great stance too, and our in-house assessor’s analysis of the coachwork begins with “overall great cosmetic condition” – but then he wouldn’t be as feared throughout the industry as he is if he didn’t manage to come up with a few issues.

Like a few tiny marks on the wheels, a touched-in chip on the edge of the driver’s door, a “very light” scuff to the offside rear bumper, and “two or three light scratches” elsewhere.

Naught of note then.

The blue ruched leather interior was, we are told, fitted to special order, further bolstering the car’s exclusivity.

And isn’t it fabulous? We always say that if you’re going to buy a classic car then you should go all-in and fully embrace the period, and few interiors are more of-the-period than this including the orange lettering of the heating controls.

It’s all in great condition too, including the fabulous front seats that manage to hold you tightly through the bends while still retaining all the legendary comfort we’ve come to expect of French cars. Manually adjustable to save weight, they tilt forward to allow access to the rear seat.

And the use of blue ruched leather extends to that rear seat as well as the door cards, and all four are in an even better condition than the front seats.

We’re willing to bet the steering wheel came from Momo, which is no bad things because it’s as lovely to look at as it is in the hand, but then the Alpine is a very tactile car; dial in one of the fattest gearknobs we’ve ever seen alongside three dinky foot pedals and you’ve got a unique driving experience.

As for work to do, the Pioneer radio-cassette might be the original, but it doesn’t work. The air-conditioning needs looking at too, the lid of the central armrest/cubby is loose, and the fire extinguisher that’s fitted is out of date.

More minor cosmetic flaws are even fewer. We spotted a few marks to the lower door cards and the seat bolsters, plus a few scratches around the ignition barrel but that’s about it.

The Alpine’s service history is limited, but then so is its mileage and use:

• 20.03.2025 – service by Mezger Limited including a refurbished alternator
• 30.06.2022 – service by Hightone Restorations including fresh brake fluid and a change of coolant
• 07.08.2008 – new oil filter supplied by Rawlinson Renault, with the work presumably being done in-house

Oh, and the odometer was replaced in 2007 with a new one that reads in miles-per-hour. The one that was taken off read 602kms, and the invoice from Renault Slough confirming this is in the history file.

As you can see in the video, the turbocharged V6 bursts into life and idles well. It revs nicely too and shows good oil pressure.

The engine bay is very clean and neat. It all looks original too, but then having come this far you could have written that bit yourself, couldn’t you?

The frunk is equally tidy. Home to the space-saver spare wheel, tool kit, and various mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical components, luggage space there is limited.

The underside was cleaned and protected by Buzz Weld Chassis Guard Clear Wax by Project Shop in April 2021, and a very neat job they appear to have made of it.

But then this was already a well-preserved underside thanks to a distinct absence of the sort of scuffs and scrapes you would have every right to expect to find on such a low-slung sportscar.

We also spotted what looks like the original factory exhaust system.

The Alpine’s MoT certificate, which is valid until March 2026, was issued with no advisories, something it’s achieved on a regular basis over the years. In fact, since the last advisory in 2012 in for “slightly cracked” tyres (which were promptly changed for the Toyos it wears today), the only two it’s had have been for underbody/engine covers being fitted.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported vehicle.

The Alpine also comes with two keys, the book pack and wallet, invoices for work completed, a book of wiring diagrams, an official workshop manual, and some old tax discs.

Rare and unutterably lovely, the Alpine A610 is the thinking person’s Porsche 911. In 1991 Richard Bremner of CAR Magazine wrote of it: “It’s a car that’s meant to be driven hard and fast, and entertains wonderfully when it is.”

Of course, a car as original as this and with so few miles on the clock is more likely to be destined for static display than ragged along an Alpine pass.

But the beauty of this particular example is that you could run it down to the Le Mans Classic every other year, interspersed with a bi-annual treat to the Goodwood Revival, and probably not hurt its value too much.

That’s known in the trade as having your cake and eating it – and then coming back for a second slice.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £30,000 - £40,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.