Talbot Alpine / 1510 History

Family car · 1975–1986

Sample hero image — replace with real model photography.

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 (1975–1979)

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 (1979–1986)

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