The boxy European Chrysler Alpine's styling had an unlikely Cold War afterlife — it directly inspired the shape of the Soviet-era Moskvitch Aleko (1986-2001), built behind the Iron Curtain.
Lead trim: Alpine 1.3 Type 315 OHV I4 (1,294 cc)
Chrysler Alpine (Europe)C6 · 1975–1986
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FactThe boxy European Chrysler Alpine's styling had an unlikely Cold War afterlife — it directly inspired the shape of the Soviet-era Moskvitch Aleko (1986-2001), built behind the Iron Curtain.
The Chrysler Alpine, or Simca 1307 (codenamed C6, in development since 1972), is a large family car produced by Chrysler Europe and then PSA Peugeot Citroën from 1975 to 1986, styled in the UK by Roy Axe and his team at Whitley and engineered by Simca at Poissy; a modern front-wheel-drive hatchback, one of the earliest in the large family class with the Renault 20/30 and Volkswagen Passat, it became the 1976 European Car of the Year. It was marketed as the Simca 1308 and 1309 (larger engines; 1508 and 1609 in some markets), Chrysler Alpine (UK, Ireland, New Zealand), Dodge Alpine (Colombia, 1978–1982), Chrysler 150 (Spain) and, after PSA's takeover and a 1980 facelift shown at Frankfurt, Talbot 1510/Talbot Alpine/Talbot 150, with the Talbot Solara as the four-door saloon (1.3 or 1.6). Originally it had the 1294 cc and 1442 cc "Poissy" engines with electronic ignition and a four-speed gearbox, in GL, S and GT trims with high equipment levels (the later GLS had central locking and electric windows); production rose from 400 a day at the September 1975 launch to 850 in December and 1,100 a day in late 1976. The 1307 (7 CV) had the smaller engine and the 1308 (8 CV) the larger, and the sporting 1307 S had twin Weber carburettors in continental Europe. The 1980 Talbot range brought the new top SX (alloy wheels, cruise control, headlamp wash/wipe, power steering, trip computer), automatic and five-speed options; from early 1985 Finnish assemblers Saab-Valmet offered the Talbot 1510 GLD with PSA's 1.9-litre XUD9 diesel with 65 PS, the only diesel version. It was also built at Ryton (UK, from 1977), Villaverde (Barreiros, Spain), Bogotá, Uusikaupunki (Saab-Valmet, 1979–1985) and assembled in New Zealand by Todd Motors (1977–1984); its styling inspired the Russian AZLK-2141 Moskvitch. In the UK the Alpine lost out to the Ford Cortina/Sierra and Vauxhall Cavalier because the range topped out at a 1.6, its OHV engines being "tappety" and unrefined, and only 19 were licensed in 2017. Wheelbase 102.5 in (2,604 mm), length 167 in (4,242 mm), width 66 in (1,676 mm), kerb weight 2,314 lb (1,050 kg). The page gives no power figure for the petrol engines.
Collectors Spotted in the Chrysler Alpine (Europe) Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Chrysler Alpine (Europe) yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
4 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine 1.3 Type 315 OHV I4 (1,294 cc) | 1975–1986 | 1.3 L Inline-4 | — | — | — | FWD | — | — |
| Alpine 1.4 Type 315 OHV I4 (1,442 cc) | 1975–1986 | 1.4 L Inline-4 | — | — | — | FWD | — | — |
| Alpine 1.6 Type 315 OHV I4 (1,592 cc) | 1975–1986 | 1.6 L Inline-4 | — | — | — | FWD | — | — |
| Talbot 1510 GLD 1.9 XUD9 diesel I4 (Finland, 65 PS) | 1985–1986 | 1.9 L Inline-4 | 64 hp | — | — | FWD | — | — |
Owning one
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Owners’ builds
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Rivals
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