Alpine Renault Alpine GTA
The Renault Alpine GTA was officially launched in the United Kingdom in 1986 through an exclusive network of specialist Renault dealers. Developed in Dieppe as the successor to the A310, the GTA was marketed purely as the Renault GTA in Britain due to Chrysler retaining historic UK trademark rights to the Alpine nameplate. Built around a central tubular steel backbone chassis clad in lightweight glassfibre and polyester composite body panels, the rear-engined 2+2 coupé achieved a remarkable aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.28. The UK lineup commenced with the naturally aspirated 2.85-litre V6 GT producing 158bhp via twin Solex carburettors, followed quickly by the potent 197bhp 2.46-litre turbocharged V6 Turbo capable of reaching 155mph. In 1990, the wide-body GTA Le Mans special edition arrived, of which just 26 right-hand-drive cars were built for the UK market. For the British enthusiast, the GTA offers junior supercar pace and exceptional ride compliance, though buyers must navigate fragile cooling hardware, intricate carburettors, and structural chassis corrosion hidden beneath impervious composite skins.
Check a specific car?
Got a registration for a Renault GTA? Get an instant MOT and history report.
Common Faults & Reliability
These are the most common documented problems for the Alpine Renault Alpine GTA, sorted by their typical impact and frequency.
Steel Backbone Chassis and Rear Suspension Turret Corrosion
high severityAlthough the Alpine GTA features lightweight polyester and glassfibre composite exterior panels that do not rust, it is built over a tubular steel backbone chassis with structural outriggers. Trapped road salt and moisture beneath the bonded composite body cause severe structural corrosion, particularly around the rear suspension turrets, chassis outriggers, sills, and front bumper mountings. Because the body is permanently bonded over the metalwork, extensive rot can progress unseen until suspension alignment shifts or structural failure occurs at MOT inspection.
Radiator Cooling Cowl Missing and Backbone Coolant Pipe Deterioration
high severityThe Alpine GTA relies on a front-mounted radiator fed by an essential plastic cooling scoop beneath the aerodynamic nose cone. On many surviving examples, this cowl was discarded, damaged, or omitted during maintenance, severely restricting airflow to the radiator. Furthermore, the cooling pipes running through the central chassis backbone rust at their entry and exit points, while mid-mounted radiator unions cause lower-core silting. These cooling deficiencies trigger rapid coolant temperature spikes in traffic and risk cylinder head warpage.
PRV V6 Cylinder Head Gasket Failure and Wet Liner Subsidence
high severityThe all-alloy PRV (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo) V6 engine utilised across the GTA range features wet cylinder liners seated on figure-of-eight base shims. Inadequate antifreeze renewal or thermal overheating causes the cylinder liners to subside or move relative to the engine block deck, compromising the cylinder head gasket seal. Once breached, combustion gasses pressurise the cooling circuit, producing emulsified oil in the crankcase, chronic overheating, and potentially terminal block distortion if driven while breached.
Browse by Production Year
Select a specific year to view detailed registration directory lookup and annual MOT history reports for the Alpine Renault Alpine GTA.
Example Alpine Renault Alpine GTA Vehicles
Browse real UK-registered Alpine Renault Alpine GTA vehicles. Select any registration for an instant MOT and history check.