Ever since 1963 Jean Rédélé was trying to persuade Renault to enter Forumla 1 with a car designed by him. However la Régie was reluctant to give the go ahead to such a project, fearing that it would be very expensive and that lack of success might affect their reputation and sales.
Fast forward to 1967, a year when sponsors were finally authorised in Formula 1 cars and also the year when the French Government issued a concours with a big grant for the first manufacturer to make a 100% French Formula 1 car.
Elf was keen to get the money to get to Formula 1, and it was rumoured that Matra were preparing a single seater powered by one of their V12 engines. However with the purchase of Simca (Matra's partner from 1967) by Chrysler in 1969 they were bringing Shell with them, forcing Elf to find some other path to get to F1.
Elf then got in contact with Jean Rédélé, which quickly accpeted. The project was developed secretly, altough Rédélé told Renault of it, explaining them that it was a personal project with no need for involvement from their part. Thus the A350 was born, with the 3 litre Gordini engine. Note that this was not a Renault Alpine, but an Alpine.
It had a revolutionary new suspension, the main point being that the wheels should never have negative camber when cornering. Technically the left and right wheels weren't independent from each other, since they were connected by the upper wishbones itself connected to a subframe via a thrust reverser. The result was no variation in the camber of the wheels because it was the chassis which inclined itself in the corners.
Following positive testing the debut was planned for the 1968 French Grand Prix. However, quickly informed, Renault put a definitive stop to the project, fearing that the 120bhp power deficit (compared to the Cosworth DFV) would be too much to overcome.
Later this year Renault finally bought Gordini, stopped all development on the quad cam 3 litre V8 engine and put any hopes there might have been to revive the Formula 1 project to rest.
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