Category: Sports Cars
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Sunbeam-Talbot Ten & 2-Litre: UK History, Models & Buying Guide
The Sunbeam-Talbot Ten and 2-Litre were among the first cars to combine Rootes Group engineering with the prestige of the Sunbeam and Talbot names. Introduced before the Second World War and revived for the austere post-war market, they offered compact sports saloons, dropheads and tourers with unusually elegant coachwork. 1947 Sunbeam-Talbot Ten. Wikimedia Commons, CC…
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Harrington Alpine & Le Mans: UK History, Models & Buying Guide
The Harrington Alpine transformed Rootes’ open Sunbeam roadster into one of Britain’s most elegant early-1960s fastback grand tourers. Built in tiny numbers by Thomas Harrington Ltd of Hove, the family included the original Harrington Alpine, the competition-inspired Le Mans, and the exceptionally rare Series C and Series D. A Series Alpine donor. Harrington added a…
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Sunbeam Alpine Mk I & Mk III (1953–55): History & Buying Guide
The first Sunbeam Alpine was a hand-finished 2.3-litre sports roadster derived from the Sunbeam-Talbot 90, not the smaller finned Alpine introduced in 1959. Produced from 1953 to 1955 as the Mk I and Mk III—there was no Mk II—it combined traditional Rootes engineering, Mulliners coachwork and serious works-rally pedigree. 1954 Sunbeam Alpine Mark I roadster.…
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Sunbeam Rapier Series I–V: UK History, Specifications & Buying Guide
The original Sunbeam Rapier was Rootes’ glamorous two-door sporting saloon, combining proven Hillman Minx engineering with sharper performance, richer trim and genuine competition credibility. Built from 1955 to 1967 in five main series, it evolved from a 1.4-litre hardtop into a 1.7-litre grand tourer and was also offered as a rare convertible. Sunbeam Rapier Series…