Alpine was founded by Jean Redele in 1955.  The company was named after the Creterium des Alpes race that Redele participated in while driving a Renault 4CV.  Production on the Alpine A110 began in 1961.  The car was also known as the “Berlinette” because it first had “Berlinetta” bodywork before becoming available as a cabriolet.  Due to it’s heavy use of Renault parts and Alpine’s relationship with the French car maker, Renault would buy them out in 1973.  All of the bodies on these cars were constructed of fiberglass to make the cars as lightweight as possible.  In 1973, the Alpine would win the 1973 FIA World Rally Championship.