Lot Ended
Description
In the current ownership since 1978; body-off
restoration between 2006 - 2011 and only around 3,000 miles since;
overdrive; full set of weather equipment
Launched in
March 1953, the Sunbeam Alpine two-seater sports roadster was inspired by a
one-off open rally car built by Bournemouth Sunbeam-Talbot dealer, George
Hartwell. The production version was based on the existing Sunbeam-Talbot 90
saloon but with styling input from Raymond Loewy to add the sparkle needed to
attract the all-important American market.
The 90’s chassis and running
gear were retained, the former suitably stiffened to compensate for the reduced
rigidity of the open-topped body, while the bodies were hand-made by Mulliners
of Birmingham. To enhance the Alpine’s sporting credentials, the 2,267cc
four-cylinder ohv engine received a power boost to 80bhp courtesy of a revised
cylinder head which gave it a top speed of 95mph with optional Laycock de
Normanville overdrive.
Initially for export
only, the new Alpine did not reach the UK market until the autumn of 1953, but
before then the new model’s launch had been enhanced by a blaze of publicity
following successful record-breaking attempts at Montlhery and Jabbeke where
Stirling Moss achieved a maximum speed of 120mph.
On its first
competitive outing, an Alpine driven by Sheila van Damm also won the ‘Coupe des
Dames’ in the 1953 Coupe des Alpes, and in 1955 another Alpine took a starring
role when driven by the Grace Kelly character in the Alfred Hitchcock film 'To
Catch a Thief'.
Only 1,192 Alpines were made (801 LHD and 391 RHD) before
the MkI was replaced by the MkIII in October 1954 (there was no MkII version).
This Alpine MkI was first registered in Great
Yarmouth in October 1954, a copy of an old buff logbook showing that by 1969 it
was owned by the rather splendidly named Robert Crumpacker of Bucks, being
acquired by a Robert Watts of Slough in 1971 and then by a Peter Heywood of
London in c.1975.
By 1978 the car was with an
upmarket dealer in Streatham, Bertram Cowen Ltd, who loaned it to Philips car
radios for use in an advertising campaign, photos and press cuttings on file
showing the car on location at Brighton seafront. Our vendor acquired the car
from the dealer in August 1978, the invoice showing that it cost him
£1,450.
The dealer informed our vendor that the
car had developed overheating issues early in its life which Rootes were unable
to resolve, so it had been fitted with a new and slightly more powerful engine
from an Alpine MkIII.
Over the next five years
the Sunbeam was used regularly, attending various shows and STAR events, old
MOTs showing that it covered some 4,500 miles during this period. The demands of
a young family then intervened and the Alpine was put into storage where it
would remain for the next 20+ years, being started and run occasionally to keep
everything free.
We will let the vendor tell
the rest of the story: “In about 2006 I decided to restore the car to its former
glory and began a full nut-and-bolt restoration. The engine, gearbox and axle
were stripped and rebuilt by the renowned Jaguar mechanic Guy Garlick, with new
bearings, bushes, seals and rings etc. The chassis was sand-blasted and
refurbished eliminating all rot, and the body was restored with new floors,
sills, wheel arches and a bespoke spare wheel well fabricated. The chassis was
primed and coated with metal preservative, the underside of the body and wings
sprayed with Shultz underbody protection and the outer panels sprayed with
multiple coats of Alpine Mist.
“The interior
was restored with new door cards, bespoke hardwood door tops, new carpets and
renovated leather seats. A new wiring loom was designed and manufactured
encompassing subtle improvements to ensure the smooth running of the car:
additional relays and fuses; the dynamo replaced by an alternator; an electric
fuel pump with manual isolating switch; trafficators that can be disabled by the
driver when travelling on motorways; an electric radiator fan which is manually
operated from the dashboard for those hot days stuck in
traffic.
“The original column gear change was
completely restored with precision bronze bushes machined ensuring the gear
change is as smooth as when it was new. It has optional overdrive which works on
3rd and 4th for relaxed high speed touring. It also has the central rev counter
which was an option on the MkI. For added security, the handbrake features a
period aftermarket combination lock, there is a hidden battery cut-off switch
and a dummy alarm light on the dashboard.
“The
wheels have been powder coated and fitted with nearly new Radial tyres. The
hood and sidescreens are in good condition, stowed away behind the
seats. In the boot is a bespoke tonneau cover I had made, along with a selection
of tools, and the car is fitted with a full length stainless steel exhaust to
original design and specification.
“Since the
restoration was completed in July 2011, EX 8684 has been driven reliably all
over the country, socially and to attend classic car meetings. It has attended a
couple of STAR meetings and has been entered in a number of classic car shows
and won awards on several occasions. I also drove EX 8684 to Brighton seafront
and was able to identify the exact location where the Philips Radio photo shoot
had taken place in the 1970s. The Alpine has an Agreed Value policy with Norton
Insurance of £65,000.”
The vendor informs us
that due to his declining health, the car has been very little used in the last
few years and may benefit from some precautionary recommissioning before any
long journeys are undertaken. It comes with an album of photos documenting the
restoration, a few invoices, the aforementioned Philips Radio photos and press
cutting, an owner’s handbook and 7 old MOTs which imply that it has covered just
over 3,000 miles since the restoration was completed. A video showing the
restoration can be sent to interested parties if desired, using the email
address shown below.
Starting promptly and
running nicely as we have moved it around on site, with healthy oil pressure,
this handsome old Sunbeam now needs an enthusiastic new owner who can continue
to cherish it as our vendor has over these last 45 years.
For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email
[email protected]
* All charges are subject to VAT