A310 and GTA

Hi,

I'm interested in the green A310 at Car Advisor Doncaster:

http://www.caradviserltd.co.uk/used-car ... 4152619203

And the white GTA turbo at Sarah Cox:

http://www.sarahcoxcars.co.uk/used-cars ... 1437103120

Different cars and different budgets, I know, but each appeals in its own way. Does anyone know either car please, or can you spot anything good, bad or ugly in the pictures?

Any help appreciated, thanks.

Ben.

[BIG_MVS]

The Sarah Cox GTA has been sold to a guy called Paul (I think) who is a member on here. Not sure why she is still advertising it?

The Green 310 was also owned by an ex member from on here called Shaadi. Looks like a nice one but some other peeps will know more about it I'm sure.

Whereabouts are you in the country? Have you seen the Blue GTA up in Scotland on the Autotrader? There is also a Red one in Edinburgh on Car and Classic but needs a full respray.

Not sure if Trevor Beadle's Silver one is still available which is also on C & C at £6995

Thank you for your helpful reply. I'm near Bristol hence the attempt to do some due diligence before travelling! Yes I've seen all those cars advertised. Although no stranger to getting my hands dirty I really want as close as possible to a "needs nothing" car. The George Mackay one in Edinburgh looks pretty good, but it's going to be very difficult for me to view that one.

I really fancy the A310 but some objective verification of its condition would be reassuring. It featured in classic and sportscar about 10 years ago in a feature about the Douvrin engine (delorean and volvo featured as well). There's also a short video on YouTube by the dealer, and obviously I can speak to the dealer. It seems to have been imported in 2005 and was restored by the time it was in classic and sportscar, so perhaps it was restored in France?

See I've found out quite a lot, but more questions than answers!

Thanks again.

Hi, I bought the white GTA from Sarah Cox in May. I have noticed that its still advertised.

They are great to drive & well worth hunting down. There may be someone in the club that has one for sale. Also it may be worth speaking to Lee at R.A.T.S. to see if he knows anyone who is looking to sell.

Happy hunting.

Regards, Paul

Thanks Paul and well done. It looks great.

Ref the A310 does anyone know if that's the correct steering wheel? It doesn't look quite like others I've seen, but is the one in the c&sc article .

[johnb]

The steering wheel isn't the original one.

[stephendell]

The A310 had a body off restoration and IIRC it wasn't attached again particularly well hence it is/was suffering from stress cracks in the fibreglass. The stickers were strategically positioned to cover some of these.

It has a GTA engine (no bad thing 2849cc instead of 2664cc) and I think a different gearbox.

Nice car though.

Paul Sage at Alpine Autos worked on it when it belonged to Shadi so give him a call for more info.

Thanks that's really helpful. I had wondered about the strategic placement of those stickers.

Here's the YouTube video (or search Renault alpine car advisor on YouTube):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFdfqGW2FWo

The dealers up front about the stress cracks, but I suspect is in the dark about the mods. It has a 5 speed box.

Is the body attachment problematic per se or just something that could have been done better?

It's beginning to sound like an interesting car, but I am starting to query the valuation (already reduced by £3000) if its a bitsa (no offence intended).

Have seen the green car up close many times, is very nice indeed. Very mint inside , paint colour is original motor show colour, runs and drives spot on . Not in a position to comment on the body off scenario, Paul had mentioned this to me but I was under the impression this was sorted now. At current prices I would say anything under 20k and you've had a touch. Not ultra-original but the French are less anal about this than us uptight Brits :0).

Yep as Tony said, I wouldn't think of it as a bitsa. You'll struggle to find any two GTA's that are identical now and even more so with an A310. Most of these cars have been tweaked or fiddled with in some way just to keep them running or as on-going upgrades, whether that's non-standard suspension, engine, brakes, interior trim etc.

The Sarah Cox GTA did look very original, but that's unusual these days.

Go back even further to the A110s and they're virtually all different in some way, shape or form and most left the factory like that.

Thanks both. The classic enthusiast in me is a bit of a purist. But the bit of me that keeps them running is a realist! "Bitsa" was perhaps unintentionally derogatory. I'd certainly be quite happy with an engine and box family upgrade.

Just watched wheeler dealers a310 episode. Will see about viewing the green car next week. And a burgundy GTA has just popped up locally, although I think I have A310-or-nothing syndrome now...

And Tony - I used to own an Alpina B9 coupe (based on 635). I see you have a B10. Nice!

Well if your heart's set on a 310, then I think your struggle to find a better one than this. I don't think your likely to lose money on either, but the 310 is a solid investment (already full classic status, GTA is probably teetering in the edge) and the green one shouldn't really need any cash spent on it for some time to come.

Have you seen the EVO article? They really liked Paul Sage's 310.

For Griffter

Das ist sehr gut Tony!

Eine kleine slice das '80s.

[stephendell]

Is the body attachment problematic per se or just something that could have been done better?

It's beginning to sound like an interesting car, but I am starting to query the valuation (already reduced by £3000) if its a bitsa (no offence intended).

Essentially they are fibre glass bandages holding the body to the outriggers and they hadn't been don't that well. As Tony says they are likely sorted now and the cracks probably won't get much worse.

Value wise it's the older 4 cylinder cars that are worth the most money and I can point you in the direction of a nicely restored 1600 VE for similar money if you want to take a look.