Lot Ended
Description
Few owners, the previous for 49 years; overdrive; factory hard
top; new soft top; recent new exhaust and tyres; Dr No colour scheme; nicely
original and well-preserved
Styled by the
great industrial designer, Ken Howes, the 1959 Sunbeam Alpine was heavily
influenced by the Ford Thunderbird which lent it oodles of Trans-Atlantic
glamour. At first the car was powered by a 78bhp 1,494cc four-cylinder engine
but in the Series II of 1960 this was replaced by an 85bhp 1,592cc unit.
In 1963 the Series III arrived with larger front
brake discs, a bigger boot and a revised interior. Power went up by another 2bhp
the following year with the Series IV, easily recognised by its much smaller
tail fins. The final model was the Series V of 1965 which had a 92bhp twin carb
1,725cc engine, enough to power the Alpine to an easy
100mph.
All were fine cars, being perhaps the
most habitable, practical and everyday useable sportscars of their era. The
driving position is excellent, the doors open wide for easy entrance and exit
and the handling is exemplary thanks to a notably rigid structure. Great for
shopping but also a real hoot on twisty B-roads, the Alpine is perhaps the ideal
classic sportscar.
First registered in London in
November 1960, this Sunbeam Alpine Series II has the ‘Big Fin’ good looks of the
early models and the desirable options of a factory hard top and overdrive
gearbox. Finished in Lake Blue with a pleasingly original red vinyl interior, it
closely resembles the Alpine famously driven by Sean Connery’s 007 in Dr No, a
boxed model of which is included with the car (see photos).
Old logbooks show that 297 AYX had just one owner from 1972 – 2021, a
Mr Wood of Wellingborough, and it seems to have had just one or two owners
before that.
Our vendor's
mother acquired the car from Mr Wood's estate in February 2021 at
which point it had been in dry storage for several years but was in good running
order with a new exhaust and a new set of tyres recently fitted. Good son
that he is, our vendor tinkered around with the car to make sure it was running
well and also smartened it up with various new parts including a new vinyl soft
top, new tonneau cover hardware, new core plug set, carbs overhauled and new
vinyl door cards.
Sadly his mother passed away
before getting to enjoy the car so it has not been driven for the last couple of
years. We are told that the car runs and drives well with effective brakes
and the overdrive working as it should on 3rd and 4th
gears.
When it arrived on site we soon coaxed it into life with some
fresh petrol and it ran nicely with good 45psi oil pressure. Given how little it
has been used in recent times, some precautionary checks would no doubt
be advisable before it is driven any distance.
As you can see in the photos,
this handsome Alpine looks reassuringly straight and solid with a pleasingly
original interior and smart paintwork. All that lets the side down slightly is
the chrome on the rear bumper which is lifting in places. A set of four bumper
over-riders are present but not fitted. The air filters for the carbs have been
misplaced but the vendor will try to locate them prior to the sale. A period
sales brochure adds a nice touch.
Altogether a most appealing
and nicely preserved Alpine which will really come into its own in the long hot
summer which lies ahead of us. Fingers crossed…
Consigned by
James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com