The latest project from talented French designer, Philippe Chalot (ex-Sbarro and AC3 356 replica), is a very clever Alpine A110 replica based on a Smart Roadster. A nifty concept along the lines of the much-missed Michalak, in my view.

Using the complete drivetrain and underpinnings from the Smart, the superbly-named Smarlinette is available in kit form priced at €16,540 (approximately £14,919, although dependent on the exchange rate, obviously), which buys you the GRP and polyester body components (front and rear sections, bumpers, bonnet and boot-lid), hinges, all lights, mirrors rear screen and includes the cost of dismantling and servicing your Smart Roadster donor.

My basic French even suspects that the price quoted also includes trim parts, fitting the Smarlinette panels and paint in a colour of your choice!

The Smarlinette is sold via Chalot’s company Quelet, who specialise in composites and prototyping for the major French car manufacturers amongst others. The projects arrival is further proof of a gentle resurrection of the domestic French specialist car scene, a once buoyant and typically quirky cottage industry that seemed to have faded for good. Thankfully developments in recent months suggest otherwise, I’m delighted to see.

More information on the Smarlinette from www.smarlinette.fr ENDS.