1953 Sunbeam Talbot Alpine Roadster

The Alpine is a two-seat sports roadster manufactured by Rootes LTD in London, England from 1953 through 1955. Initially developed as a one-off rally car by George Hartwell with coachwork provided by Mulliners LTD, each car was hand-built and based on a 1952 Sunbeam-Talbot drophead coupé and powered by the same four-cylinder 2,267 cc (138.3 cu. in) engine from the saloon, but with a raised compression ratio.

Rootes gained much publicity from Sheila van Damm and Stirling Moss driving specially prepared Alpines at record speeds of 120.459 mph along the Jabbeke highway in 1953. In that year's Alpine Rally four factory team cars completed the Coupe des Alpes. In that event, Sheila van Damn won the Coupes de Dames.

This car's body colour is Coronation Red in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 crowning. About 1300 Alpine MK1s were built and fewer than 200 survive today.