SUNBEAM SET TO LIGHT UP SPRING SALE

Historics offer three shining examples of sporty two-seater
Three equally stylish sixties Sunbeams will be swinging their way into Brooklands for Historics’ spring sale on Saturday March 9^th.
Ready for rallying or high speed touring, Historics’ 1965 Sunbeam Tiger has been recently restored to the highest order, and crosses the block bristling with performance potential.
With over £25,000 spent on parts alone, the two year restoration included the installation of a new 340bhp, Ford GT40 302 engine, and a new five speed Tremec gearbox with overdrive on top gear to enable cruising at 80mph at 2000rpm.
Attempting to tame this Tiger, the car also features disc brakes all round, vented at the front with Wilwood four pot calipers and handbrake calipers on the rear.  The car has new specification Panhard Rods, set at the correct level and welded anti tramp bars to the suspension.
The car has been converted to left hand drive and is finished in Midnight Blue with a matching hard top, sun roof and new black soft top, while the external chrome has also been meticulously restored.
The interior features all new black leather seating, while an electronic rev. counter and speedometer have been housed in the dash with all other instruments in matching colour.
Ahead of the 50^th anniversary of the model in 2014, Historics’ expects strong offers in the region of £33,000 to £38,000 for the capture of this Tiger.
50 years old this year, Historics’ spring sale will also showcase a 1963 Sunbeam Harrington Le Mans, one of the last of 250 such cars built.
Its motorsport moniker was a result of Sunbeam’s win of ‘The Index of Thermal Efficiency’ Trophy at Le Mans in 1961, and based on the Alpine Series II platform, introduced radical new coachwork that did away with the fins in favour of a sloping rear.
Historics’ Harrington Le Mans underwent a complete restoration in the late 1980’s and was fitted with a Holbay engine; one of the last engines overhauled by Holbay Engineering founder John Read.
Like the Tiger, this Le Mans is well-known to Sunbeam enthusiasts as a pinnacle of performance amongst such models.
The 1840cc engine combined with twin choke Weber carburettors give out 140bhp with overdrive on third and fourth gears, while a 1:37 ratio rear differential and fourteen-inch Minilite wheels ensure excellent handling.
Meticulously maintained throughout its ownership, the red Sunbeam is a regular on the European rally scene, and most recently completed the 3,000km run to Cannes in the south of France for the Alpine anniversary rally.
With a new black leather interior ensuring performance is not attained at the expense of comfort, this eminently driveable rare classic represents a sound investment opportunity, with Historics estimating bids between £17,000 and £21,000.
Both cars took their cues from the Sunbeam Alpine, a model celebrating its 60^th anniversary in 2013, with its success reflected in four subsequent revisions of the original car and a production run continued right through until 1968.
Historics’ 1968 Series V represents one of the finest prepared of all Alpine’s, and has covered just 460 miles in the last 25 years.
Taken off the road in 1977, a no expense spared restoration spanning two years has recently been completed, with every attention to detail taken care of, and an equally comprehensive history file assembled that makes for compelling viewing.
Of the 69,251 Alpine’s produced, 19,122 were Series V, which were typified by a five-bearing 1725cc engine and twin Zenith-Stromberg semi-downdraught carburettors producing 93bhp.
Historics’ immaculate example is presented with resplendent red coachwork, black hood and matching black leather interior, and is expected to fetch offers of around £12,000 to £14,000 at Brooklands on Saturday 9^th March.
For more information call 01753 639170, e-mail: auctions@historics.co.uk, or see the website, www.historics.co.uk.