Renault Spent $30M to Make This French 911 Legal in America—Then Built Just 12

Xenio

Jan 13, 2026

A rare 1988 Renault Alpine GTA Turbo has recently appeared in Oklahoma, drawing attention from car enthusiasts and collectors alike. This particular model has only 24,000 miles on the odometer and is believed to be one of just 12 units ever built for the U.S. market. The limited production run makes this vehicle an extremely rare find, especially considering that Renault ultimately canceled its U.S. launch, leaving these cars as true survivors.

When most people think of rare French sports cars, they often imagine Bugatti. It’s understandable—only 450 Veyrons and around 600 Chirons were ever made, and they have become modern legends. However, many overlook the fact that Renault's Alpine division once produced a car that was even rarer than these iconic models.

The Alpine GTA Turbo was a rear-engined sports car that took inspiration from the classic Porsche 911 formula. It was produced between 1984 and 1991, but for the U.S. market, Renault went through the effort of building just a dozen 2+2 seaters. Each of these vehicles came with a high price tag due to the costs associated with bringing them into compliance with federal regulations.

A Costly Venture

According to reports from Automobile Magazine in 1987, the cost of adapting the Alpine GTA Turbo to meet American safety and emissions standards was staggering. Renault reportedly spent the equivalent of $30 million on this endeavor, which translated to roughly $2.5 million per car.

To comply with U.S. regulations, each car underwent several modifications. These included the addition of emissions equipment, which reduced horsepower by 20 and torque by 10 pound-feet. The cars also received five-mph bumpers, pop-up headlights, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), enhanced cooling systems, and air conditioning. While these changes added weight, they improved the car’s weight distribution from 36/64 to 38/62, making it more manageable and confidence-inspiring compared to other sports cars of the time.

A Short-Lived Dream

By the same year that these U.S.-spec Alpines were finalized, Chrysler acquired Renault’s American partner. This shift in ownership effectively ended the business case for selling a rare and costly French sports car, especially since Chrysler already had its own luxury import in development—the TC by Maserati.

As a result, the dream of a successful Alpine presence in the U.S. never fully materialized. Only 12 cars were ever built, and the one currently on display is one of them. New owner Robert Jackson recently shared his story on Facebook about acquiring what could be considered a unicorn in the automotive world.

A Survivor in Excellent Condition

The car in question is a 1988 model with just 24,000 miles on the clock. According to Jackson, the vehicle is in excellent condition, maintaining the original specifications of a low-mileage survivor. Under the rear deck lies a V6 engine shared with the DeLorean DMC-12, though this version includes the necessary components for turbocharging. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission.

This setup allows the turbocharged V6 to produce 200 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. The performance numbers are still impressive today, with a 0–60 mph time of around 6.5 seconds and a top speed exceeding 150 mph. These figures place the Alpine in the same performance range as a modern Toyota GR86.

R.Jackson/Facebook

Jackson described the car as "a super refined version of the old Dodge Daytona, but rear-wheel drive and more powerful." The design is indeed similar, and driving one of these cars reveals a surprisingly playful nature. However, the chassis isn’t designed for aggressive cornering, and the drivetrain excels more at high-speed cruising than at drag races.

Despite its limitations, it’s refreshing to see one of these U.S.-spec Alpines, known for their pop-up headlights, finally receiving the recognition it deserves on American soil. Perhaps the Alpine brand can make a more successful return to the U.S. market in the near future.