A110 1800 Gr. IV "1972 OLYMPIC RALLY"

Jürgen Clauss
Aug 1, 2022
18 min read

Updated: May 17

CLIENT COMPETITION

HISTORY

RALLY ZLATNI / BULGARIA RALLY

23-25 JUNE 1972

GOLDEN SANDS

In front of the Golden Sands beach on the Black Sea near Sliven, the Takov brothers drive their Berlinette uphill.

Yancho and Illia Takov from Bulgaria were active rally drivers in the 1970s, known especially for their use of Alpine A110 Berlinettes. Yancho Takov, son of the then Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Trade Peko Takov, purchased an Alpine A110 1800 Gr. IV directly from Jean Rédélé, the founder of Alpine, in 1972.

PARC FERMÈ IN SLIWEN – A GLIMPSE INTO THE BLUE FIRE

A hot summer day in Sliven. Dust hangs in the air, mixed with the scent of oil, petrol and blazing asphalt.

And there they stand – “Les Bleus,” the legendary Alpine Berlinettes, lined up as if spat out by the heavens themselves.

From left to right: the elegant 1600S of Tchoubrikov, proud and battle-ready. Next to it, forged from fiberglas and passion, the 1800 Gr. IV of the Takov brothers – a true beast from Bulgaria, with its unmistakable orange snout.

To the right, the A110 1800 Gr. IV of Maurice Nussbaumer, ready to storm the field.

And all around? A kaleidoscope of colors – red and yellow shining on the Bulgaralpines as if competing with the sun itself. But it was more than just a play of colors. The racing department in Dieppe knew exactly what they were doing. The colored bumpers and bumper horns were tactical signals – markings for insiders, visible identifiers for mechanics, spectators, and rally pioneers alike. From afar, they let everyone know who was rushing by, kicking up dust,

the roar of the engine like a battle cry.

And in the middle, the Takov Berlinette, crowned from the start with orange bumpers, a signature of speed, a harbinger of wild determination. On that day, Sliven didn’t just witness French design, but Bulgarian fighting spirit on four wheels.

It wasn’t just a Parc Fermé – it was a monument to rally racing.

Starting grid in Albena – No. 7 the Takov brothers

1972 OLYMPIC RALLY

13-19 AUGUST 1972

Alpine’s Triumphant March Through Germany

GERMANY IN RALLY FEVER

In August 1972, shortly before the Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany hosted its largest rally event to date, the Olympia Rally. With the Olympia Rally, Germany experienced its biggest event of this kind so far – over half a million fans lined the roads to admire the steering artists.

The route stretched from the sailing areas in Kiel to the Olympic Stadium in Munich, thus connecting the two Olympic venues. The course covered 3,371 kilometers and included 62 special stages totaling 632 kilometers. Of the 307 teams that started, only 145 reached the finish line, highlighting the rally’s toughness and challenge.

The field was internationally top-class. Victory went to the French duo Jean-Pierre Nicolas and Jean Todt in an Alpine Renault A110. Second and third places were taken by the Swedish team Anders Kulläng / Donald Karlsson and the French team Jean Ragnotti / Jean-Pierre Rouget, both driving Opel Ascona 19 SRs. More than 300 starters from 15 nations raced over 65 special stages during a week between Kiel and Munich, covering a total distance of 3,300 km.

THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Ahead of the Munich Games, the world elite of rally sport came together nearly in full force from August 13 to 19, 1972, for the "Olympia Rally." The first full assembly of the international rally elite in Germany became a mammoth event requiring huge organizational effort.

Factory teams from Alpine, Ford, BMW, Opel and Datsun rolled to the start. Everyone with a name and reputation in the rally world was there: Nicolas and Darniche (Alpine), Warmbold and Aaltonen (BMW), Mikkola and Glemser (Ford), Kulläng and Ragnotti, Greder and Madame Beaumont (all Opel) and of course, the complete German elite.

And there was one more—still largely unknown at the time: Walter Röhrl, with co-driver Hannes Rothfuß.

When the 25-year-old from Regensburg smashed the first best times early on in his Capri RS, everyone was baffled. Questions flooded in, even from officials: "Where does he come from? What has he done before? This can’t be real."

And then there was a small, rather inconspicuous man, dutifully doing his job as co-driver in the hot seat of his French friend Jean-Pierre Nicolas’s winning Alpine. We are talking about Jean Todt, who leaned out of the blue winning Alpine 1800, puffed up his big cheeks to the max, and grinned broadly at the photographers. Yes, that Jean Todt—later Ferrari team principal and former FIA president.

Source: www.speedweek.com

©McKlein

PRE-START ERBACH -

A BEGINNING FULL OF HOPE

Erbach, deep in the green heart of the Odenwald.

The early morning lies quiet over the pre-start area,

yet beneath the surface, the drivers simmer with anticipation.

The tension is palpable. Amid the roaring engines and final checks stand two men, united by passion, heritage and an Alpine Berlinette 1800 Gr. IV - Yancho and Illia Takov.

They came from Bulgaria, fire in their eyes and the scent of French engineering in their noses. The Takov brothers, supported by the legendary Illja Tchoubrikov, father of the Bulgaralpine, were more than just drivers. They were ambassadors of an automotive dream that crossed political boundaries. Their Berlinette was no ordinary car.

Once destined for Ove Andersson, it now stood at the starting line under the Bulgarian flag.

Delivered with glowing orange bumpers, a signal to the world. We are here and we are ready.

Then came Special Stage No. 36 in Schlüchtern, an abrupt end. A failure, a retirement, the finish line crossed too soon. The rally was over. But not their spirit. Because what the Takovs brought was more than speed and technique: it was the bold idea that motorsport need not remain a privilege of the West. Two factory Berlinettes, sent directly by Jean Rédélé to Bulgaria—that was a thunderclap across the Iron Curtain. The pre-start in Erbach became a symbol.

A symbol of new beginnings, of friendship beyond borders.

1974 POLAND RALLY 1974

12-13 JULY 1974

PEACE & FRIENDSHIP-

A RALLY UNDER THE SIGN OF HOPE

Krakow, July 1974 — the roads tremble, engines roar, dust swirls. The 34th Rally Poland promised to be a highlight on the calendar, the sixteenth round of the European Rally Championship and the third round of the Peace and Friendship Rally Cup. A series born from the vision that motorsport could build bridges where politics erected walls.

Peace & Friendship — what a name!

Yet under this banner, courage, idealism and bitter reality would collide. Twenty-seven special stages stood between triumph and tragedy. For although the spirit of international friendship was in the air, the organization faltered.

At Górka-Strachocina, on SS12, disaster struck:

rally legend Sobiesław Zasada collided head-on with a race official’s vehicle traveling in the opposite direction — a fatal failure in course safety that nearly cost lives. As if fate wanted to add insult to injury, the timing system also faltered. Protests, discrepancies, and in the end a final classification that raised more questions than answers. Yet despite all adversity, it was a race that left a mark. Because Peace & Friendship was more than just a title — it was an attempt to turn rivalry into respect. And on the rough Polish gravel roads, for a moment, the idea shone through that even in the dust of special stages, the dream of understanding could live on.

GRAVEL ROADS - A DANCE IN THE DUST

The sky hangs low over the Polish countryside, gray and heavy — yet beneath the wheels of CK-0171, the dust dances. Radislav Petkov and Gantcho Gantchev are no Sunday drivers; they are hunters. And their prey is time.

The gravel beneath them is harsh, relentless, a constant resistance to speed. But the duo knows no mercy — they throw the car into corners, stones slam against the wheel arches, the suspension screams. The landscape? A picture book of hills, fields, and ancient forests. But for Petkov and Gantchev, only the next apex matters, the next drift, the next moment when the machine flies instead of drives.

CK-0171, driven by precision and madness, plows through the heart of the East as if the journey itself were the goal. Out here, on loose ground, different rules apply — here wins the one who pairs skill with courage, who doesn’t fear the gravel but loves it.

And as the roar of the engine slowly fades into the distance, only one trace remains in the dust — and the echo of passion that lingers long between the trees.

RALLY ZLATNI / BULGARIA RALLY

21-22 JUNE 1975

FULL HOUSES - FULL OF PASSION

It’s 1975, somewhere between Plovdiv and Pamporovo and Bulgaria is shaking. The rally is in town, and the crowds are flooding in. Calling it a “full house” is an understatement, it’s a pilgrimage site for petrolheads,

a festival of speed in the midst of socialist everyday life.

The roadside crowds burst at the seams. Grandstands, parking garages, rooftops — every spot becomes an arena, every beam a stand. Men, women, children — all jostle for a place at the course, hungry for the roar of engines, the whirring rush of the cars, the fleeting glimpse of legends from Alpine, Wartburg, Moskvitch, or Lada.

In the Eastern Bloc, rallying was more than just a race, it was escapism, a storm of freedom, a demonstration of technical daring against the gray routine. When the machines screamed through villages at screaming RPMs, the country transformed into a pulsating heart of adrenaline, dust and euphoria.

The 1975 Bulgaria Rally was no mere competition. It was a folk festival, a collective ecstasy, proof that motorsport knows no borders, only passion. And passion was everywhere here — loud, alive, unstoppable.

BULGARIAN RALLY CHAMPION

1975 — a new chapter begins, written in oil, smoke, and the will to win. The sound of engines echoed through the mountains of Bulgaria, but one stood out. CK-0172 — formerly CK-0171 — now under the steady hand of a man ready to make history - Ivan Nikolov.

The change of license plate was more than a formality, it was a fresh start. The Berlinette, battle-tested and driven by legends, got a new driver in Nikolov. A man who knew how to not only drive a machine but command it.

Precise, fearless, hungry.

Whether on rough gravel in Poland or in the daring hill climbs of Bulgaria — Nikolov pushed the Alpine to its limits.

Fans cheered, rivals trembled. The CK-0172 danced over asphalt and gravel like a predator stalking its prey — powerful, elegant, relentless.

By the end of that year, more than a name was on the winners’ list. A statement stood:

Ivan Nikolov, Bulgarian Rally Champion 1975. One man, one car, one triumph — born from the fire of motorsport.

CK-0172 was no longer just a car. She was legend.

SISTERS IN CRIME— LEGENDS BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN

Between concrete and barbed wire, where the cold winds of the Cold War blew, rolled two blazing blue bolts —

the only genuine factory Alpine A110s ever to make it into the Eastern Bloc.

These Berlinettes were more than just race cars. They were symbols of a forbidden passion, technological masterpieces that broke boundaries and unleashed dreams.

In the Parc Fermé, they stood side by side: No. 9, the former factory Alpine 9846HL76, now driven by Hungarian rally hero Attila Ferjancz and No. 12, the legendary Berlinette of the Takov brothers. Two fighters, side by side — a rare sight behind the Iron Curtain.

From Jean Rédelé’s factory hands directly into those of Bulgarian rally pioneers — Yancho and Illia Takov —

these machines had a mission far beyond mere motorsport.

Equipped with bright orange bumpers so they could be recognized from afar, they were battle cars in the dust of rally stages, shining ambassadors of French engineering in the shadow of political barriers.

These two Alpine A110s were more than vehicles. They were bridges between worlds that otherwise kept their distance. Every race, every corner, every special stage was proof that speed and courage cannot be stopped by borders.

The factory Alpine A110 in the Eastern Bloc, two legends on four wheels, immortalized in dust, asphalt and memory.

TIME OF SUFFERING— A FIGHTING SPIRIT

1976 — the once-proud Berlinette of the Takov brothers bears deep scars. Every scratch, every mark tells of fierce battles on dusty rally tracks and the harsh life behind the Iron Curtain. The bluish fiberglass shows signs of exhaustion,

but the soul of the Alpine still burns bright.

Its owner at the time, Ivan Nikolov, did not give up. Despite obvious battle damage, scarce spare parts and inadequate maintenance, he continued to race the Alpine in local rallies — a sign of unbroken will and passion. The car may have been marked, but it kept rolling, defying adversity, fighting the hardships of time and the weight of the Eastern Bloc.

This Berlinette was no ordinary vehicle anymore. It was a living testimony of endurance, a symbol for those who don’t give up even when circumstances are against them. The Takov Alpine, a fighter whose heart beats on despite all wounds.

DECOMMISSIONED — THE FORGOTTEN WARRIOR

Once burning bright with racing fever, it now stands abandoned in the shadows — in a dusty backyard, among trash bins and rubbish. The Takov Alpine, once a proud Berlinette, looks broken, worn down by years of struggle and neglect. Its shining racing career seems over, the days of fast corners and cheering fans numbered.

Whether it was even roadworthy in this sad state remains a mystery. For many years it lived hidden away in Bulgaria, forgotten by the world. Mistreated, stripped, its former glory faded — a relic swinging between hopelessness and silent decay.

Yet in this decay lies a story of passion, courage and the unbroken spirit of motorsport.

The Takov Alpine is more than body and engine, it is a legend waiting to be rediscovered and reignited.

A fate that, despite everything, hopes for redemption.

SEARCH AND RESCUE

FRENCH CONNECTION

MARCH 2004

THE ODYSSEY OF A BERLINETTE – FROM FORGETFULNESS TO REBIRTH

Cyril Mancel, son of the legendary Berlinette Mag editor Jean-Jacques Mancel and Monika Mancel, once held the sad remains of a Berlinette in his hands — a Berlinette whose story seemed lost in the fog of time. This vehicle, once a shining racing machine, was now a shadow of itself, battered and stripped, a ghost waiting for redemption.

In October 1993, after years of exile in distant Bulgaria, the Berlinette finally found its way back to its homeland France, documented by customs papers. To the expert eye, it was unmistakable, this was an original competition version,

a jewel of racing history.

But no one dared to restore this special piece or uncover its story. Instead, it was further plundered, robbed of its precious parts, a slow crime, a decay that pains every motorsport enthusiast’s heart.

At the end of its long odyssey, it stood there — naked, violated, more dead than alive.

The hope that it might ever be brought back to life was a flickering light in the dark.

Then, in March 2004, came the turning point. A call from Monika Mancel to me, a chance for rescue, for rebirth.

I took over the wreck from Cyril Mancel, immediately began meticulous research to decipher the lost history and

procure the missing parts.

At first, the vehicle was believed to be the former A110 1600S of Illja Tchoubrikov, the man who produced and licensed the famous Bulgaralpines and maintained close ties with Jean Rédélé.

But the narrow body of the 1600S, verified by historical photos, ruled it out.

The true story was revealed in a decisive phone call with Illja Tchoubrikov himself. He reported two “Client-Competition” A110s that made their way to Bulgaria in 1972. Together with his friend Yancho Takov, he had visited the Alpine factory in Dieppe.

There, in the sacred halls of the racing department “Service Courses,” stood the legendary Alpine 1800 Gr. IV —

with wide fenders, the famous “Ailes Plates” of Group 4, and striking orange bumpers. This vehicle, originally prepared for Ove Andersson, immediately sparked Yancho Takov’s desire.

Takov acquired this unique Berlinette and brought it to Bulgaria. Gilles Vallerian’s vehicle registry confirms: this car was one of the very first with the distinctive wide fenders to leave the factory gates.

The photo series I found shows the sad image of the wreck at the moment it came into my hands,

a seemingly lost piece of motorsport history whose soul still slumbered deep within the torn bodies.

But this is not a story of an end. It is a tale of resurrection, of the passion of one who heard the whispers of the past and led the Berlinette step by step back into the light — back onto the track, back into the hearts of all who love the true spirit of rally sport.

BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS

BEWARE THE SPECIALIST – A LESSON IN TRUST AND BETRAYAL

AUGUST 2012

TOTAL LOSS

A bitter moment, like a shadow over the long journey of this Berlinette.

In 2004, I was at the beginning of my restoration journey — full of hope but without the necessary experience with polyester resin and fiberglass mats. Convinced to hire a professional, I entrusted the body to an alleged specialist near Passau, a man who supposedly knew how to restore Alpine A110s.

But hope turned into years of waiting — over 8 long years the body lay there, cut into three parts, unmoved, without progress, without life. Instead of love and care, I got back what felt like a dungeon. A dismembered wreck and the painful knowledge that the deposit — a five-figure sum — simply vanished. Not refunded, not justified — withheld.

This unscrupulous behavior was one of the darkest lows in my restoration story, a betrayal of trust and passion.

I won’t name names, but this warning applies to everyone who dreams of owning their own racing car.

Be vigilant! Scrutinize the seriousness and competence of those to whom you entrust your treasures.

Because sometimes it’s not the heavy machines that fight hardest, but the trust you must give. Beware the specialist!

Don’t be fooled — not everyone who says “professional” means it honestly.

DO IT YOURSELF– THE REBIRTH OF A LEGEND

Eight long years of waiting, disappointment and then the decision, to take matters into my own hands, learn, grow.

I plunged into the world of polyester resin and fiberglass mats, feeling my way step by step, often clumsy but full of passion and determination.

Chance led me to Willi Deppert, a true master of his craft. A man with forty years of experience making motorsport parts from fiberglass, who rented kayaks, but much more than that.

A guardian of old craftsmanship who not only shared his knowledge but also friendship.

His advice, tricks, and tireless patience became the engine of my restoration journey.

Within a year, the Berlinette 1800 Gr. IV awoke from its Sleeping Beauty slumber.

Layer by layer, mat by mat, the once-racing monument returned to its proud form.

But the work was more than craftsmanship, it was a search for authenticity, for the true spirit of this unique vehicle.

As one of the first Group 4 models with wide fenders, it still preserved the shark-mouth of the production model,

the distinctive air intake under the front bumper, the cooling breath for the radiator. But beneath the surface, technical masterpieces revealed themselves.

A steep radiator duct directed air to the enlarged water radiator from the Renault 16, while the oil cooler, once in the rear, now sat beside the water radiator. A mighty fan, also from the R16, provided fresh wind when heat rose or speed dropped.

Unlike later Group 4 versions, the battery remained down low, hidden in a fiberglass box behind the water radiator,

a testament to engineering mastery balancing performance and cooling.

This rebirth was not only a technical challenge but a love letter to the Alpine Berlinette — an ode to passion, perseverance and the art of doing it yourself.

PAINTING – SPRAY & PRAY

OCTOBER 2012

SPRAY & PRAY

Finally, everything was prepared, the body fit like a jewel, all traces of years carefully removed.

Now it was in the hands of a master paint shop that had transformed many Alpines with its skill. From every project,

I learned and gathered experience that flowed into this work. This time, every nuance, every detail mattered —

fine-tuning at the highest level, no room for chance.

Lost light edges, those fine lines that run like veins from the main headlight over the fender and door to the rear wheel arch, were gently remodeled. They came back to life, drawing the contours of the Berlinette with clear elegance.

Primer, filler, paint, and clear coat — layer by layer, accompanied by endless sanding until every surface appeared perfect. But the true measure was not just in the paint application, it was the passion, patience and love for detail with which every curve, edge and surface was treated before.

Because only this devotion makes color a skin that breathes — making the history, character and soul of this legendary vehicle visible and tangible.

RE-ASSEMBLY

DECEMBER 2012

STEP BY STEP

After the hard duty of painting came the highlight, the careful reassembly of the legend.

Every component was carefully reworked, refurbished, and sorted for months — ready to be mounted and full of anticipation for the moment to finally be back in place.

Planning here is more than organization — it is the foundation that guarantees the flow of work and prevents the project from stalling due to missing parts.

The tough times of countless hours with little visible progress were over. Now every small part found its rightful place and stayed there, firmly rooted as if it had always been there. Piece by piece, the sculpture came back to life, the lines of the Berlinette shaping again, powerful and proud.

With every minute I gave the project, it moved closer to completion, a living work of art made of passion and craftsmanship, soon to unfold its full beauty.

BACK ON TRACK

THE JOURNEY IS THE GOAL

APRIL 2014

NEVER GIVE UP

What a long, rocky road, a path full of confusion, ups and downs, obstacles, and personal setbacks. But giving up?

That was never an option.

Ten years after buying this seemingly lost wreck and just two years after taking the bodywork into my own hands, it finally rolled again — powerful and proud — onto the road in the Swabian Forest. For the very first photo shoot.

All the effort, all the sleepless nights, frustrations, and challenges were forgotten, erased in the moment of joy.

The Berlinette, once scrapped, almost lost, lives again.

This picture, this return to life, awakens a wave of happiness, satisfaction, and deep pride. Because it’s not just the goal that counts, it’s the journey itself that shapes and drives us. And this journey was more than worth it.

GET OUT AND DRIVE

THE BETTER IS THE ENEMY OF GOOD

AUGUST 2017

PARTING HURTS

The No. 72 of the 1972 Olympia Rally spun its first laps on the gentle hills and winding roads of the Swabian Forest.

Its sight was pure magic, an irresistible temptation that conquered my heart instantly.

I swore that our liaison would last forever. But as so often happens, a love story ends unexpectedly and painfully.

A new admirer appeared in my life, a cowboy who flew across the big pond just to show his affection. I fought with all my might to resist this desire, but after a long night in the showroom, full of stories, anecdotes and countless glasses of vin rouge, it was over for me. Our separation was sealed.

With a heavy heart, I let her go, knowing I couldn’t hold on. Just weeks earlier, Jean Charles Rédélé had made me an irresistible offer — an A210 Le Mans prototype from his collection for sale.

Thus, the saying “Better is the enemy of good” became reality. My beloved Berlinette found her way across the Atlantic to San Francisco, where she now shines and is admired at renowned classic car events.

Sometimes, when the sun sparkles over Marina Bay, she shows herself there, majestic and proud.

On her Sunday ride over the Golden Gate Bridge, she draws the admiring eyes of all car fans on the way to

Cars & Coffee in Sonoma — a sparkling star in the classic car sky.

CAR IN DETAIL

TREASURE HUNT

LIPSHEIM - REIMS – PARIS

TRÈS JOLIE

Hard to believe that all these parts now rest again in their rightful place. More than body and chassis, the wreck had little left when it came to me. But my vision was clear long before its faded shine gleamed anew. It was a pearl among pebbles — its glow lost, barely noticed by the world, though it deserved to shine.

Every detail was to be as Yancho Takov once took over in Dieppe and started in the Olympia Rally in Kiel. Besides tireless restoration work, the hunt for original parts led me across France: Paris, Reims, Lipsheim — pilgrimage sites of my treasure hunt for lost jewels.

But in the end, I did not fully surrender to the original. Like shoes for ladies, wheels are the crowning glory for cars. The three-piece Gotti Monte Carlo wheels in matte gold form a bold contrast to the “bleu métallisé” — only a thin silver rim on the wheel lip remains a shiny echo of tradition.

The “alpineLAB” lettering on the outer dish seals the little rebellion, the creative wink of the restorer — a sign that the Olympia princess carries not only her history but also a new signature.

CONCOURS

THE QUAIL, A MOTORSPORT GATHERING MONTEREY (CA), AUGUST 2018

KNIGHTHOOD

For ten days in August, connoisseurs and enthusiasts from around the world gather on the Monterey Peninsula —

a celebration of automotive design, engineering, and passionate camaraderie.

The crown jewel of all these events is “The Quail - A Motorsport Gathering.” Nestled in the lush idyll of a golf course gently nestled against the majestic Santa Lucia mountain range, exquisite cuisine meets the most precious jewels of the vintage sports car world.

Here, renowned manufacturers show their latest luxury cars, but the real stars are the legendary classics.

The limited tickets to this exclusive event are more coveted than gold, sold out long before the big day — over $700,

a price that only true enthusiasts smile at.

The starting spots for the prestigious concours are as rare as a sparkling diamond — only a few chosen ones enter the ring. Just participating is a knighthood.

And then, in the middle of this elite company, stands she — the little Alpine, a delicate jewel on the lush lawn of

“The Quail.” She measures up against giants, competing in the “Post War Racing Cars” class for fame and honor.

In short: The 1st place for the smallest competitor came like a thunderclap.

The judges, enchanted by the unmistakable charm of the little Frenchwoman, made a dream come true.

The OLYMPIA RALLYE A110 triumphed against illustrious rivals — a victory almost like a knighthood.

Of course, for the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that three of the jurors were of French origin —

a favorable balancing factor. But who cares?

The overjoyed owner of No. 72 beamed with the Californian sun and celebrated this historic triumph —

a moment that will forever go down in history.

A110 1800 Gr. IV "1972 OLYMPIC RALLY"

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