1966 Sunbeam Tiger
1966 Sunbeam Tiger
Chassis no. B382001974LRXFE
289ci OHV V8 Engine
Single 4-Barrel Carburetor
200bhp at 4,400rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Front Independent Suspension – Live Rear Axle
Front Disc – Rear Drum Brakes
*Desirable Mk I example
*Equipped with both its soft and hardtops
*A Cobra on deep discount
THE SUNBEAM TIGER
Inspired by Carroll Shelby's success in shoehorning a Ford V8 into the AC Ace to create the Cobra, Rootes asked Shelby to perform the same Anglo-American hot-rodding with its Sunbeam Alpine sports car. Ford's 260ci (4.2-liter) unit was chosen, and even though it had 'only' 165bhp on tap, it produced nearly twice the horsepower of the contemporary Alpine's 1.6-liter four. The aptly named Sunbeam Tiger entered production in June of 1964, more than a year after Shelby's first prototypes were initially released.
The Pressed Steel Company Limited in Oxfordshire, England, supplied painted and trimmed bodies and the engines and gearboxes came directly from Ford in America. Assembly was handled at the Jensen Motors Limited plant in West Bromwich, England. Compared to the standard Alpine, the Tiger was fitted with a stronger gearbox and rear axle plus rack-and-pinion steering and was vastly superior to its Alpine progenitor in performance terms; the Tiger stormed to 60mph in less than ten seconds and peaked at 117mph.
In 1967, the Series II Tiger was introduced, with the major change being an upgrade of the 165 horsepower 260 to the 200 horsepower 289ci V8. Sadly, the Tiger was terminated shortly thereafter when Rootes was acquired by Chrysler, who was understandably opposed to selling the Ford-equipped Tiger. However short their production run, the Sunbeam Tigers were an excellent and important example of Anglo-American hot-rodding and offer blistering performance in a handsome, decidedly British package.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
The Tiger MK1 offered here with both soft and color-matching hard top has been kept garaged over the past couple of years. Minimally driven in the last several years, the mechanical condition of the car is unknown, and a thorough check of the car is recommended before extensive usage.
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1966 Sunbeam Tiger
Chassis no. B382001974LRXFE
289ci OHV V8 Engine
Single 4-Barrel Carburetor
200bhp at 4,400rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Front Independent Suspension – Live Rear Axle
Front Disc – Rear Drum Brakes
*Desirable Mk I example
*Equipped with both its soft and hardtops
*A Cobra on deep discount
THE SUNBEAM TIGER
Inspired by Carroll Shelby's success in shoehorning a Ford V8 into the AC Ace to create the Cobra, Rootes asked Shelby to perform the same Anglo-American hot-rodding with its Sunbeam Alpine sports car. Ford's 260ci (4.2-liter) unit was chosen, and even though it had 'only' 165bhp on tap, it produced nearly twice the horsepower of the contemporary Alpine's 1.6-liter four. The aptly named Sunbeam Tiger entered production in June of 1964, more than a year after Shelby's first prototypes were initially released.
The Pressed Steel Company Limited in Oxfordshire, England, supplied painted and trimmed bodies and the engines and gearboxes came directly from Ford in America. Assembly was handled at the Jensen Motors Limited plant in West Bromwich, England. Compared to the standard Alpine, the Tiger was fitted with a stronger gearbox and rear axle plus rack-and-pinion steering and was vastly superior to its Alpine progenitor in performance terms; the Tiger stormed to 60mph in less than ten seconds and peaked at 117mph.
In 1967, the Series II Tiger was introduced, with the major change being an upgrade of the 165 horsepower 260 to the 200 horsepower 289ci V8. Sadly, the Tiger was terminated shortly thereafter when Rootes was acquired by Chrysler, who was understandably opposed to selling the Ford-equipped Tiger. However short their production run, the Sunbeam Tigers were an excellent and important example of Anglo-American hot-rodding and offer blistering performance in a handsome, decidedly British package.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
The Tiger MK1 offered here with both soft and color-matching hard top has been kept garaged over the past couple of years. Minimally driven in the last several years, the mechanical condition of the car is unknown, and a thorough check of the car is recommended before extensive usage.
Sale price
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
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