Jonathan Smith,
Keep in mind here that I am in the U.S., not U.K.
Series V alpines have the 1724 engine which is generally known
to be the best mechanically.
The 1724 engine has 5 main bearings, but is nearely identical to
the earlier 3 main engines, with most of the internals being compatible
if not identical.
Late series IV and all series V transmisions used an all-syncro
transmision. The earlier transmisions are OK, but first gear is not
syncronized, and first gear is straight cut, and makes significant
noise. Spares are poor for the non-synch tranny, and good for
the all-sync.
The overdrive option requires a special transmision, and cannot
be added to a standard tranny. As with the standard tranny, having
the all-sync is more desireable than a non-sync.
Overdrives are nice, and add to the value of the car, but are well
known to be a weak link in the drive train, and thus should be
used on stock engined cars, and well babied.
Some people like the styling of earlier alpines ( I am partial
to the fins on series 1 to 3), but in the interest of reliability and
spares
availability, I would recommend that if you are interested in an early
mark, that you buy one with the 1725 engine, and an all-sync
transmision.
The SV engine made the most torque and HP, but earlier cars
were lighter.
Early cars "1s and 2s" were available with a bubble shaped aluminum
hardtop. All others were available with a steel squared hardtop, which
are known to rust in the pillars. The steel hardtop must be carefully
inspected to verify that it doesnt need major work.
Looks like alpines run for quite a bit of money in the U.K.
6500 pounds sterling?
Wow! Thats about 10,000 USD.
That money here would fetch a pristine alpine of any year, and
would have to be in concourse condition. Even then, it would never
sell.
If you are hard pressed to find one for a bargain in the U.K.
Consider having one shipped from the U.S.
You could get a beautifull one, rust free, and nearley restored
for about 5000 USD, then ship it for about 1000 USD.
Servicing the alpine is very easy, parts availabilty is good.
Plenty of room to work on the engine ECT...
Wire wheels are fine, provided that you dont hot rod them.
The wheels dont tollerate to much abuse, and the splines
wont tollerate jack-rabbit starts.
I love the side draught webers, if you use them, and build up
the engine for performance, dont use wire wheels of the OD trans.
>If i was also condsidering Fiat 124 , Alfa Duetto, Jensen Healey 2000,
or
>Porsche VW 914/916.
>Why would i choose the Alpine ???
If the Jenson Heally 2000 has the Lotus 907 engine, I'd take the
Jenson. All these cars are nice little performance cars, and if
its performance that you are really after, and not the styling of the
alpine, then its not the alpine that you are after.
The alpine takes a LOT of money to make it into a race worthy
car, and performance spares are not very plentifull.
Good luck.
Jarrid Gross
SII 1725, Twin Jap DCOE's, 4.55 rear end
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