#233 SCALEXTRIC – RENAULT ALPINE 2000 TURBO (Ref. 4053) (1976)

The only car released in 1976 was the Renault Alpine 2000 with the reference number 4053. There were 4 versions of it made: blue (as the original car), white, dark green and yellow. In this entry I’ll show the last two, which are the two I own at this moment. The white model probably sold not so good, since the spoilers are in white for all models and the contrast between white and another colour makes the other three versions more attractive.

The car looks awesone and due to its low profile is a great racer. The real model is called A441. The modified version A442 of this car is better known and has an air intake over the cockpit.

 

This car was designed for endurance races in 1974, and there were only four units of it ever made. One of these four (the only original and unmodified) can be seen in private collection in Monaco.

Among those 4 cars, the exact one that is reproduced is the one driven in the 2,0 Liter FIA championships for makes 1974. Interestingly, there are three sets of decals, which are very similar, but each one has a different race number and the names of other pilots. These are J.P. Jabouille, Alain Cudini, and Alain Serpaggi. In this category, they all raced with Alpine A441 and Serpaggi was the champion, Jabouille third and Cudini 8^th in 1974. The car also took place in 1975's championships, being replaced after a few races by the A442.

Real Alpine A441 - Pilot: J.P.Jabouille (image taken from http://images.forum-auto.com)

 

Both models I am presenting here still have their original packages. Interestingly, older Scalextric boxes (the models shown here, also the similar model used at the end of the 70s were not made by Exin directly, but by INEX in Mataró (a town near Barcelona). The name is Exin spelled backwards, so we think it was just some part of Exin. There is not much information about INEX. The logo is normally printed on the bottom of the box or in the interior.

As a bonus, I include pictures of my second model in yellow.

UPDATE: Now I also own the blue versión of this car, unfortunately, not very clean, I need to spend some time on it.

FACTS AND FIGURES

• Name: RENAULT ALPINE 2000 TURBO (Ref. 4053)
• Scale: 1:32
• Year: 1976
• Company: Scalextric Exin (Spain)
• Size: approx. 14 cm