1960 Sunbeam Alpine Series II

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 safe to drive 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 sweetly with good 50psi oil pressure, effective brakes and with the overdrive working as it should on 3^rd and 4^th gears.  

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