Talbot Alpine / 1510 History
A large front-drive family hatchback styled in the UK and engineered at Simca's Poissy plant — the 1976 European Car of the Year sold as the Chrysler Alpine before becoming the Talbot 1510.
Photo: “1977 Chrysler Alpine GL 1.3.jpg” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
History
The car known in the UK as the Chrysler Alpine began production in 1975, styled by Roy Axe's team at Chrysler's Whitley design centre and engineered at Simca's Poissy plant in France. It was one of the earliest front-wheel-drive large family hatchbacks and shared the 1976 European Car of the Year award with the Chrysler Horizon. In France it was sold as the Simca 1307/1308/1309; in the UK as the Chrysler Alpine.
PSA's 1978 acquisition of Chrysler Europe produced the mildly facelifted Talbot 1510 hatchback (France) and Talbot Alpine (UK) from 1979, and a notchback saloon derivative — the Talbot Solara — from 1980. UK production at Ryton, Coventry ended in autumn 1985 to make way for the Peugeot 309. French Talbot 1510 hatchback production ceased in 1982 after 75,753 units; the Solara continued somewhat longer.
Generations
Chrysler/Simca era · Chrysler Alpine / Simca 1307
Photo: “1977 Chrysler Alpine GL 1.3.jpg” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Roy Axe-styled large FWD hatchback; 1976 ECOTY winner; sold as Simca 1307/1308/1309 in France, Chrysler Alpine in the UK.
1977 Photo: “1977 Chrysler Alpine GL 1.3.jpg” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
1979 Photo: “1979 Chrysler Alpine 1.3 LS (52721917971).jpg” by Kieran White from Manchester, England / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Talbot era · Talbot 1510 / Alpine / Solara
Photo: “1984 Talbot Solara.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Mildly facelifted under PSA; hatchback (1510/Alpine) and notchback saloon (Solara); UK Ryton production ended autumn 1985.
1981 Photo: “1981 Talbot Solara LS 1.6 Front.jpg” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
1984 Photo: “1984 Talbot Solara.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Body styles
- Hatchback
- Saloon
Related models
Collect the nameplate
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