I also saw the Anna Lee program "Stalker" Tues, and have the following
observations. The Alpine is a Series III, RHD, Wedgewood Blue color with
stock steel wheels, badge bar, and square rally lights. The license plate
number is RSK 727, and there is a backup light on top of the left rear bumper
guard. Identifying features for this series are the high, angled fins,
quarterlight windows on the front of the door, the early style bumper guards
and lattice grille. This appears to be a Sports Tourer model, with soft top
(hood) and black vinyl covered dash (not the wood grain dash of the GT) but
the overhead shot of Anna preparing to go on her trip reveals some strange
modifications. The soft-top (hood) compartment pannels have apparently been
upholstered in black vinyl. The seats bottom cushons are one-peice like later
Alpines, and not the 3 peice microcell buckets of the Series III.
Despite the use of the umbrella during the scene on the country road when it
was raining, there is a soft top partially stowed. My guess is that the
production crew had put the top up to protect the actors between shots, and
didn't fully stow it away under the top compartment covers (a difficult job
sometimes).
I was able to catch a brief glimpse of part of the gearshift, and It looked
like the "T"-shaped shifter of an auto trans. This would square with the
message from Andrew Austerfield about the Ford driveline conversion. It would
be great to hear from someone who is involved with the car about its origin
and modifications. I am told that the Anna Lee TV series bit the dust. Is
the car still in existence?
I was horrified to see the Land Rover smash into the front end of the Alpine
and start to push it over the cliff. Unblemished front clips are nearly non
-existant on Alpines. The last scene shows the Alpine (after the body damage
has been repaired) driving off with the soft top up.
It made my heart beat a little faster just to see the Alpine driving through
the rolling hills of the English countryside. I am partial to high fins, so
I think the Series III is a great choice for stardom. The story was
watchable, but leaned toward the "Chick Flick" genre. The role of the Alpine
in this TV series will do little to dispel the image of the Alpine as a
pretty car for the ladies. A car with the performance and competition
history of the Alpine deserves a better "vehicle".
I look forward to recording other episodes and learning more about the car.
-------------------------------------
Name: Rex Funk
E-mail: rexfunk(at)ni.net
Date: 08/4/95
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