1954 Sunbeam Alpine

The Rootes Group acquired Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq in 1935, makers of the Sunbeam-Talbot automobiles. In the early 1950s and with the urging from George Hartwell, a Bournemouth Sunbeam-Talbot Rootes dealer and rally preparation expert, the company introduced the Alpine, a one-off rally car designed to compete at the Alpine rallies in Europe and the Monte Carlo.

Sunbeam launched the Alpine model in June 1953. Along with highly tuned prototypes and the standard Alpine Model, E.R.A. secretly developed the Alpine Special. The Alpine Special was powered by a 2,267 cubic-centimeter MK I engine with a modified 8.0:1 compression ratio to deliver higher output. It used Siamese exhaust ports, an alloy rocker cover, a special induction manifold, and a twin-choke Solex carburetor, helping to produce approximately 98 horsepower. The standard Alpines used a single downdraught carburetor. The Specials used a standard overdrive, revised gearbox and rear axle ratios, and straight-through exhaust system. They were clothed with aluminum panels on the boot and bonnet.

To gain homologation, six left-hand-drive pre-production Alpine Specials cars were made along with six rally cars drawn from production registered MKV 21-26 in early 1953. With drivers such as Stirling Moss (car number 21), Peter Collins (car number 23), Sheila van Damm (car number 25), and G. Murray Frame, these cars were consistent winners. A prototype was tested in Belgium in March 1953 by Moss and van Damm recording a record speed of over 123 mph.

Between 1953 and 1955, a total of 1,582 Alpines were produced, of which 921 were exported to Canada and the United States. It is believed that less than 100 examples were equipped with the specially modified 'Special' engines (perhaps around 70), and of those, 42 were produced with left-hand drive. Each car was hand-built in the United Kingdom by Thrupp & Maberly.

A fleet of Sunbeam Alpines was shipped by the Rootes Group in the mid-1950s to the United States to participate in the Great American Mountain Rally created in the Catskills, in a similar fashion to the European rallies.

The Sunbeam Alpine was replaced in October of 1965 by the MK3.

Production

Sunbeam Alpine Mark I and Mark III
- 1953 to 1955, with 1,582 examples built.
- 961 exported to the United States and Canada
- 445 remained in the United Kingdom
- 175 went to 'rest of the world.'
- There were no Mark II.
- These were hand-built two-seater sports roadster/drophead coupé at Mulliners of Birmingham coachbuilders.

Sunbeam Alpine Series I to V
- 1959 to 1968, with 69,251 examples built.
- Production ceased shortly after Rootes Group was acquired by Chrysler.

Mechancial Specifications

The Sunbeam Alpine Mark I and Mark III rested on a 97.5-inch wheelbase chassis and had an overall length of 168.5 inches and a width of 62.5 inches. The 2.3-liter (2,267cc) engine had 8.0:1 compression, alloy rocker cover, and Siamese exhaust ports on cylinders 2 and 3. It had a twin-choke Solex 40 P.I.I. carburetor, a special induction manifold, and produced approximately 97 horsepower at 4,500 RPM. The transmission was a four-speed column-shift unit with overdrive. The suspension used a torsion bar and coil springs at the front, while the rigid rear axle was suspended by semi-elliptical leaf springs. Four-wheel drum brakes provided the stopping power.

The Sunbeam Alpine Series I to V of 1959 to 1968 had a smaller 86-inch wheelbase with an overall length of 155 inches. The Series I received a 91.2 cubic-inch (1.5-liter) four-cylinder engine, the Series II, III and IV had a larger 1.6-liter (1,592cc) unit, and the Series V a 1.7-liter (1,725cc) inline-4.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2020