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Lot #51 - 1965 Sunbeam Tiger MK1A

  • Auction House:
    Mossgreen
  • Sale Name:
    Collectors’ Cars & Automobilia – Featuring the Ferguson Collection of Motorsport Posters
  • Sale Date:
    10 Dec 2017 ~ 2.30pm
  • Lot #:
    51
  • Lot Description:
    1965 Sunbeam Tiger MK1A
    Chassis No: B 382000190 LRXFE; Engine No: 4704F21KA
  • Notes:
    The development of Sunbeam cars grew out of the manufacture of bicycles by the Sunbeamland Cycle Co. Sunbeam came to prominence in 1909 when French designer Louis Hervé Coatalen arrived from local rivals Hillman. Coatalen was responsible for several early successful racing and record breaking cars which provided Sunbeam with welcome publicity. During the 1920s Sunbeam continued to be very active in racing and the decade also saw five successful attempts on the World Land Speed Records at the hands of Kenelm Lee Guinness, Malcolm Campbell and Sir Henry Segrave who drove a Sunbeam Tiger at 184 mph (296.113 km/h). Segrave broke the then mythical 200 mph barrier when driving at Daytona Beach in Florida in March 1927 driving the car called the 1000hp Sunbeam equipped with two enormous Sunbeam Matabele V12 aero-engines totalling almost 45 litres. Following Coatalen’s return to France in 1926, Sunbeam went into receivership in 1935. The Rootes Group acquired the assets of Sunbeam and British Talbot and in 1938 the Sunbeam-Talbot appeared. Post-war Sunbeam-Talbots were sold in France as Sunbeams to avoid confusion with the local Talbot-Lago and in 1953 with the launch of the Alpine it carried the Sunbeam name only in all territories. This is the car which was so elegantly driven by Grace Kelly with Cary Grant as her passenger in the Alfred Hitchcock film ‘To Catch a Thief’. In 1960, the new Alpine with a new body design by Kenneth Howes went on to the market. Even though a Sunbeam Alpine was driven with spirit by Sean Connery as James Bond in the ‘Dr No’ film, Rootes was aware of the vehicle’s lack of potency. Without the resources to develop a more powerful engine it took the decision to install an American V8 enlisting the help of Carroll Shelby to supervise the process of transplanting the Ford 260 (4261cc) into the Alpine body along with new rack and pinion steering. Lord Rootes gave the go ahead for the project in 1963 and the first Tigers assembled by the Jensen Factory went to the North American market in the summer of 1964 – right hand drive cars were not available until March 1965. Despite production of the Tiger continuing until June 30th, 1967 the car was doomed by the take-over of Rootes by Chrysler which would, of course, not continue to produce a car with a Ford engine in it. In total 6,495 Tigers were built using the Ford 260 and a further 571 of the Tiger II with the Ford 289 (4736cc). Sunbeam Tigers appeared at Le Mans in 1965 and another came fourth in the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally. The glorious Sunbeam name disappeared completely in 1976, only to ignominiously re-appear in 1979 for Chrysler’s Talbot Sunbeam hatchback. After making approximately 3,756 Tigers there were slight modifications carried out including a strengthened cowl and new steering bracket which led to the updated car being named the Sunbeam Tiger Mk1A. This ex-USA delivered 1965 Sunbeam Tiger Mk1A underwent an extensive and detailed restoration in 2002 (and has since covered 20,000 miles) when it was also converted to right hand drive. At that time, it underwent a bare metal respray from its original Carnival Red (as confirmed by its accompanying Sunbeam Tiger Owners Association Certificate of Authenticity supplied on November 5th, 2013) to a most attractive Mercedes-Benz Capri Blue colour. The interior was re-trimmed in Howe Leather and Camel Vinyl with a new ginger brown carpet. It features burr walnut dash and matching radio console. Its original instruments and interior have been complemented with a chrome roll-bar, a hand crafted matching radio console, VDO vacuum gauge, Jaeger clock and volt meter, foot-well lights, puddle lights in doors, hazard warning lights and a high-quality stereo with four speakers hard wired with an iPhone/iPod connection. This Tiger is fitted with larger 15” rims with new Sumitomo tyres to accommodate the larger Willwood disc brakes. Front suspension is adjustable Spax shock absorbers with fitted Nylothane bushes and the rear suspension is adjustable Spax shocks with an extra leaf in the springs. The differential is a fully reconditioned 3.05:1 limited slip diff fitted with traction master bars. The gearbox is the standard HEH.E close-ratio top loader four-speed. Fitted with a Tiger MkII Shelby 289 block, much work has been undertaken to make this a fast and efficient car. The engine has been stroked to 302 cui and fitted with Ford 302 cui cylinder head. The head has been machined and ported (fitted with large Chev inlet and exhaust valves), it has screw-in rocker studs, chrome molly guide plates, push rods and double valve springs, Sig Erson 1.6:1 roller rockers and original aluminium Tiger rocker covers. Other upgrades to the fully balanced engine are, piston rods have been shot peened and resized; ARP high-tensile 11/32” big-end bolts; TRW flat-top forged pistons; Clevite 77 main bearings, big-end bearings and cam bearings; Cloyes True Roller timing chain; stainless steel harmonic balancer; Mellings high-volume oil pump; Milodon chrome molly oil pump drive; Speed-pro anti-pump hydraulic valve lifters; ISKY 280-degree Mega-Camshaft; Ford windage tray. The cooling system features an alloy radiator and larger electric fan. In addition, this excellently presented Sunbeam Tiger has a 12-volt car alarm (A3A-6 3-point immobiliser), front mounted oil cooler, remote mounted oil filter, electronic ignition, Halogen headlights, and has also been fitted with a new alternator and wiring harness. This vehicle will be sold unregistered.
  • Estimate:
    A$78,000 - 88,000
  • Realised Price:
    *****

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  • Category:
    Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.



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