Alpine Marbon CRV

The Alpine Marbon CRV (Cycolac Research Vehicle) was developed in 1965 as an experimental prototype to demonstrate the potential of thermoplastic materials in automotive construction. The project was initiated by Marbon Chemical, the manufacturer of Cycolac ABS plastic, in collaboration with Alpine of France and the Italian coachbuilder OSI (Officine Stampaggi Industriali) of Turin. The car was conceived as a fully functional two-seater sports coupé built with a lightweight plastic body bonded over a tubular steel space frame. The body was molded in Cycolac ABS, formed into two large shells—an upper and lower half—joined along the beltline. This process allowed complex shapes and smooth, continuous surfaces that were difficult to achieve with conventional metal stamping. The plastic material offered advantages such as corrosion resistance, reduced tooling costs, and potential weight savings. The CRV’s design incorporated large panoramic glass areas, faired-in headlights, and a sharply raked roofline. The chassis, engineered by OSI with Alpine input, employed tubular steel members to provide rigidity while supporting the lightweight body. Independent suspension systems were fitted front and rear, adopting components from the Alpine A110 and other Renault-Gordini sources. The rear-mounted powertrain consisted of a small-displacement four-cylinder engine with twin carburetors, coupled to a manual gearbox driving the rear wheels. The overall mechanical layout reflected Alpine’s established rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration. Dimensions placed the CRV within the compact sports coupé category, with proportions emphasizing a low profile and short overhangs. The two-seat cockpit was constructed using molded interior panels of the same Cycolac material as the exterior, integrating seats, dashboard, and trim into the structural form. The Alpine Marbon CRV was unveiled as a technology demonstrator rather than a production model. It highlighted the potential for plastic-bodied vehicles during an era when weight reduction and manufacturing efficiency were emerging concerns. Only a single prototype was completed, assembled in Italy and tested under Marbon supervision as proof of concept for Cycolac-based automotive design.