Model: Talbot Alpine Minx
Year: 1986
Mileage: 60,000
Tax: July 2010
MOT: July 2010
Location: NE Norfolk
Price: £275
Operation Fleet Clearout continues...
This is my Alpine. It was supposed to have been bought by a mate who had borrowed it from me after his car blew up and decided he wanted to keep it, but the jammy get has just been given (as in free) an E38 728i, so he's given the Alpine back.
It's a 1.6, in what I believe is called Antelope Beige, and it's standard apart from a boot spoiler pinched from a Solara that had been scrapped at a local yard. The Minx was the base model of the range, but because these were the very last of the Alpines it's still quite well specced, with a 5-speed gearbox and power steering. The engine is the old 1592cc OHV unit, but again being the last year of production it benefits from redesigned tappets so it doesn't rattle like most Talbots did. It also has a twin-choke Weber and goes like the clappers for what it is. It's been converted to electronic ignition via the fitment of a Peugeot 205 distributor.
Bad points: the clutch and rear brake shoes are going to need replacing pretty soon; there's some rust on the nearside rear arch (although this is just surface for now, the arch itself is solid) and on the inside of the tailgate at the bottom of the rear screen, and a couple of small patches on the rear inner wings.
It's been a reliable car and it's actually pretty good to drive - the ride is comfortable in the way '70s French designs tend to be, the seats are great, and it handles pretty well too - apparently these had a bit of a reputation for understeer, but I've certainly not found that to be a trait.
Here's a pic of the car when I first bought it - this is prior to the addition of the boot spoiler. I'll take some more up to date pics either tomorrow (if I get up early enough) or Saturday.
Year: 1986
Mileage: 60,000
Tax: July 2010
MOT: July 2010
Location: NE Norfolk
Price: £275
Operation Fleet Clearout continues...
This is my Alpine. It was supposed to have been bought by a mate who had borrowed it from me after his car blew up and decided he wanted to keep it, but the jammy get has just been given (as in free) an E38 728i, so he's given the Alpine back.
It's a 1.6, in what I believe is called Antelope Beige, and it's standard apart from a boot spoiler pinched from a Solara that had been scrapped at a local yard. The Minx was the base model of the range, but because these were the very last of the Alpines it's still quite well specced, with a 5-speed gearbox and power steering. The engine is the old 1592cc OHV unit, but again being the last year of production it benefits from redesigned tappets so it doesn't rattle like most Talbots did. It also has a twin-choke Weber and goes like the clappers for what it is. It's been converted to electronic ignition via the fitment of a Peugeot 205 distributor.
Bad points: the clutch and rear brake shoes are going to need replacing pretty soon; there's some rust on the nearside rear arch (although this is just surface for now, the arch itself is solid) and on the inside of the tailgate at the bottom of the rear screen, and a couple of small patches on the rear inner wings.
It's been a reliable car and it's actually pretty good to drive - the ride is comfortable in the way '70s French designs tend to be, the seats are great, and it handles pretty well too - apparently these had a bit of a reputation for understeer, but I've certainly not found that to be a trait.
Here's a pic of the car when I first bought it - this is prior to the addition of the boot spoiler. I'll take some more up to date pics either tomorrow (if I get up early enough) or Saturday.
