1956 Sunbeam Talbot 90 MkIII
An attractive
example with considerable work done since 2016
The first
Rootes design of the post-war era, the Sunbeam-Talbot 90 was launched in 1948
and featured a modified pre-war 2-litre chassis and an overhead valve version of
the 2-litre Humber Hawk engine.
In 1950
the car was much improved in MkII form with a new cruciform chassis frame,
independent front suspension, better brakes and an enlarged 2,267cc 70bhp
engine. Stirling Moss proved the ability of the new car by coming second overall
in the 1952 Monte Carlo Rally, while works entries walked off with the Team
Prize in the French Alpine Rally later in the year.
In 1952
the car was further upgraded to MkIIA spec now with 77bhp and in 1954 came the
best model of all, the 80bhp Sunbeam 90 MkIII, easily distinguished by the three
portholes on either side of the bonnet. Blessed with fine handling for its day
with spirited acceleration, a top speed of almost 100mph and bullet-proof
reliability, it made for a very sporting saloon and won the Alpine Rally
outright in 1955.
DJK395
was first registered in September 1956 to a Mr Edmund Haswell in Eastbourne as
shown on the original buff logbook. It comes with a ring
binder full of extensive year by year records of service history and other
maintenance work going back to 1969 including the floor gear change
conversion and a respray in 1984. The
engine was rebuilt in 1984/5, including work to the cylinder head and
bottom end, a new oil pump and a rechrome of the grille and surround. There was
some body work carried out in 1999 and a new brake master cylinder in 2001
and various MOTs and many receipts from 1969
onwards.
The
mileage is showing an unsubstantiated 78,000 miles and the current
owner has had the car since 2016. He has carried out considerable work
bringing the car up to the current condition, work which included another
complete
respray in the original shade of grey, the chassis and under areas steam cleaned
and repainted in chassis black and extensive bodywork to rear wheel arches,
front wheel arches and surrounding floor area. It also got partial brake
pipe replacement, new brake shoes and wheel cylinders all round, new flexible
hoses and new fluid reservoir, new starter solenoid fitted and a professionally
fitted alternator (Dynamo look alike). A Flexolite oil filter adaptor to
take modern spin-on filter was added along with a new silencer,
electronic rev counter re-calibrated, five new Michelin X tyres and a high level
brake light fitted.
Driven
to us for the sale, the vendor advises that it ran well on a very hot day,
although tells us that the water temperature gauge is currently not
working. The original interior has a lovely patina to the leather upholstery
with the driver’s seat having small split on top of the seat back, the car
otherwise presenting well and looking present and correct.
For more
information - contact matthew.parkin@brightwells.com
Reg No: DJK395
Chassis Number: A3504589/9HSO
Engine Number: A3504589/9HSO
Engine Size: 2267CC
Docs: V5C, old style Log Book, 10 old MOT's, Workshop Manual, Photographs, Invoices.
Sale Section & Buyers Premium (ex VAT): Car 12%, Minimum £150
Estimate: £4,500-5,500
Lot 21
Lot ended
Wednesday 03/08/2022
Hammer Price (inc. buyers premium)
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