1959 Sunbeam Rapier Series III

Yo Ming Nelson Tang and Nigel Kat and 1959 Sunbeam Rapier, 2016 Tour Auto

Pour plus de photos du Tour Auto 2016, suivez ce lien.

For more photos of the 2016 Tour Auto, click on the link above.

Sunbeam, Ryton on Dunsmore, England.  Sunbeam produced the original Rapier from 1955 to 1967.  it was a two door Coupé although convertibles were also produced.  it went through a series of revisions in its life from Series I to V.  It preceded the Rootes Group other creations, the Hillman Minx and Singer Gazelle.  The fifties cars had a 1.5 litre straight four engine. For later versions the capacity was increased to 1.6 litres.  The early series cars were capable of 90mph and a 0-60mph time of around 20 seconds.  Later versions could get from 0-60mph in just over 14 seconds.  In 1958 a Sunbeam rapier won the RAC Rally in very severe weather conditions crewed by Peter Harper and Bill Deane.  Harper also came fifth in that years Monte Carlo Rally driving a Rapier.  In 1962 A Sunbeam Rapier driven by Keith Ballisat and Ian Lewis came sixth in the Touring Car category and Rosemary Smith and Rosemary Seers won the Coupe des Dames in the same event.  Rapiers also competed and finished the last two Mille Miglia of 1956 and 1957.  I believe the car pictured is an ex-work Series III Rapier that competed in the 1960 Monte Carlo Rally driven by Peter Jopp and Les Leston.  In private hands it finished 2nd in the Welsh rally and then won some Motoring News events.

1953 Sunbeam Alpine

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

Pour plus de photos du Tour Auto 2016, suivez ce lien.

For more photos of the 2016 Tour Auto, click on the link above.

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.

1968 Sunbeam Stiletto

Bruno Illanoi, 1968 Sunbeam Stiletto, Montée Historique de Beaune-St Romain 2016.

Pour plus photos de la Montée Historique de Beaune-St Romain, suivez ce lien.

For more photos of the first Montée Historique (untimed hillclimb) at St Romain in Burgundy, click on the link above.

Rootes, Linwood, Scotland.   The Stiletto was the better looking fastback coupé version of the Imp with the uprated sport engine and four headlamps .  It was produced from 1967 to 1972. The orginal version of the Stiletto had a top speed of about 90mph and apparently was no more aerodynamically efficient than the Imp despite its appearance.  Nearly 9,000 Stilettos were made.  I note the one in the photo has the 998cc engine which was a fairly common replacement from the Rallye version of the Imp.I certainly remember special saloon versions of the Stiletto in British club racing.  They also took part in many other forms of racing and rallying but had no really famous successes.

Sunbeam Imp

Sunbeam Imp, Montée Historique de Beaune-St Romain 2016.

Pour plus de photos de la Montée Historique de Beaune-St Romain, suivez ce lien.

For more photos of the first Montée Historique de Beaune-St Romain, click on the link above.

Rootes Group, Linwood Scotland.   The Hillman Imp and its badge engineered derivatives such as the Sunbeam Imp were Rootes' competitor to the Mini from 1963 to 1976.  Unlike the Mini it had a rear engine with the engine being based on an aluminium 875cc Coventry Climax unit.  The cars were built at the Rootes' Linwood plant near Glasgow in Scotland.  Badge variations included Hillman, Sunbeam and Singer.  There was even a Commer van version.   In France I believe the Sunbeam name was used exclusively for the Imp.  The Imps had successful Motor Racing careers with Bill McGovern winning the British Saloon car championship in a George Bevan prepared Sunbeam Imp from 1970 to 1972.  Rosemary Smith won the 1965 Tulip Rally in a Hillman Imo.

Click here to read about the amazing Zimp.

1981 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus

ex Toivonen/Gallagher Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, 2015 Montée Historique du Guichet

Pour plus de photos de la Montée Historique du Guichet, suivez ce lien.

For more photos of the 2015 Montée Historique du Guichet, follow the link above.

Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, UK (at the time part of the Peugeot Group).  A hot hatchback from the late seventies and early eighties that marked the end of the two wheel drive rally car era.  This car won the 1980 RAC Rally and then the 1981 World Rally Championship.  The car pictured is in its San Remo Rally livery where Toivonen and Gallagher finished second and clinched the championship.  It had a 2.2 litre 16v Lotus engine which developed 240hp in rally form.  Apart from Toivonen, other drivers include Tony Pond, Russell Brookes and Guy Fréquelin,