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.

1954 Sunbeam Alpine photo
Sport Roadster
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.

1954 Sunbeam Alpine photo
Sport Roadster
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.

1954 Sunbeam Alpine photo
Sport Roadster

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

Related Reading : Sunbeam Alpine History

The Sunbeam Alpine was introduced in 1953 and its arrival was historic, as it was the first vehicle to bear the Sunbeam name alone since the 1920 merger of Sunbeam, Talbot, and Darracq. It was a derivative of the Sunbeam-Talbot 90 Saloon, and thus (in modern times), is often referred to as the Talbot Alpine. It was the work of Sunbeam-Talbot dealer George Hartwell in Bournemouth who was working on....
Continue Reading >>

Similarly Priced Vehicles

1954 Sunbeam Alpine Vehicle Profiles

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1954 Alpine
$2,900-$18,050
1954 Sunbeam Alpine Base Price : $2,900

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Other 1954 Sunbeam Models
$2,700 - $2,900

Alpine

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
97.50 in.
4 cyl., 138.34 CID., 77.00hp
$2,900 - $2,900
97.50 in.
4 cyl., 138.34 CID., 80.00hp
$2,700 - $2,700

Related Automotive News

A Comparison of 1997 Best of Show and 2022 Best of Show Nominee at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

A Comparison of 1997 Best of Show and 2022 Best of Show Nominee at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Left 1997 Best of Show Right 2022 Best of Show Nominee The combined efforts of Talbot-Lago and Figoni %26 Falaschi resulted in many wondrous automotive creations, including the T150C model with goutte deau, literally a drop...
RM Sotheby's Announces Diverse Final Entries Set For Online Only: Open Roads, North America

RM Sotheby's Announces Diverse Final Entries Set For Online Only: Open Roads, North America

ONLINE ONLY AUCTION TO FEATURE NEARLY 100 MOTOR CARS HEADLINED BY AS-NEW SHELBY 427 SC COBRA SANCTION II OPEN FOR BIDDING 23-30 JULY RM Sothebys announces latest entries for Online Only Open Roads, North America, led by 1965 Sh...
Original Aston Martin DB4 GT Continuation Car, With Delivery Miles, Comes To Market Via Aston Martin Works

Original Aston Martin DB4 GT Continuation Car, With Delivery Miles, Comes To Market Via Aston Martin Works

2 July 2020, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire The hugely successful Aston Martin Continuation car programme, which started in 2017 with the DB4 GT Continuation, has set the standard for the creation of new-build heritage cars around the world. With...
RM Sotheby's Presents Highly Original Aston Martin DB3S Works at Monterey Auction

RM Sotheby's Presents Highly Original Aston Martin DB3S Works at Monterey Auction

SECOND WORKS CAR, CAMPAIGNED BY MOTORSPORT HERO PETER COLLINS DB3S WORKS JOINS LIST OF STUNNING MODELS THROUGH THE DECADES SET FOR AN EVENING WITH ASTON MARTIN ON 15 AUGUST RM Sothebys offers highly original and matching numbers 1953...
DB4 G.T. CONTINUATION: HISTORY IN THE MAKING

DB4 G.T. CONTINUATION: HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Iconic DB4 G.T. brought back to life by Aston Martin Works Cars will be built at Newport Pagnell - home of the original DB4 G.T. Strictly limited to 25 track-only cars Newport Pagnell production re-starts after 10 years 09 December 2016, Newp...

Vehicle information, history, and specifications from concept to production.