Dieppe-born Jean R. initially made his name racing and rallying in the 1950’s at the wheel of self-prepared rear-engined Renaults.

The master of the diminutive 4CV, he secured class wins in such major events as the Mille Miglia and Coupe Des Alpes rally.

Quick to incorporate his own modifications, he replaced the three-speed gearboxes with five-speed units and even built some lightweight alloy-bodied cars that he campaigned with success at Le Mans and Sebring.

It was then a short step to the formation of ‘Societe des Automobiles Alpine’ and cars of his own design – the name was chosen to reflect his past successes in alpine rallies – and the company’s first offering, the A106, was a star of the 1954 Paris Salon.

Embodying the best of everything he had learnt from his modified Renaults, the A106 was a rear-engined Coupe based on Renault 4CV mechanicals and clothed in a lightweight body made of fibreglass.

Alpine then conspired with Michelotti to produce a stylish low-slung Cabriole...