1953 Sunbeam Alpine

Jonathan and Christine Miles, 1953 Sunbeam Alpine, Tour Auto 2016

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Sunbeam, Rootes Group, Ryton on Dunsmore, England. Over 1,500 Sunbeam Alpine were built between 1953 and 1955. A 2 seat roadster, it was a development of the Sunbeam-Talbot 90 saloon car, initially conceived by a Bournemouth Sunbeam-Talbot dealer.  The engine was a 2.3 litre straight four engine from the saloon and the steel body was handmade by Thrupp and Maberley coachbuilders.   Sales were focussed on North America. Top speed of the production car was around 90mph and 0-60mph close to 19 seconds.  In a tuned works car Stirling Moss achieved nearly 120mph.  There was a MkI and later a MkIII but no MkII curiously. The six works cars entered just two events, the 1953 and 1954 Alpine Rallies.  In the 1953 event four of the Sunbeam-Alpines were awarded Coupes des Alpes for unpenalised runs.  Stirling Moss won  Coupe des Alpes in the works car in both years.