In this section - a regular feature of our newsletters - we look at interesting cars we've seen in our dealership or ones we'd maybe like to have...
This month it's the turn of the Sunbeam Tiger.
The Tiger evolved from Sunbeam Alpine, a very pretty but rather sedate open topped British roadster that entered production in the 1950s.
The idea is said to have come from the late great World champion racing driver Jack Brabham, who asked the Rootes Group (then manufacturers of the Alpine) if they could put a Ford V8 into an Alpine. Like Carroll Shelby had done with the Cobra and Jensen had done with the Interceptor. So Shelby was duly approached to help with the design, said yes, and did it!
The Sunbeam Tiger went into production in June 1964, with the work being sub-contracted to Jensen and they started turning out up to 300 cars a month.
Fitting a large V8 engine into the Alpine bodyshell which was originally designed for a 4 cylinder engine was not without its challenges. Some 'interesting' production methods were employed, including wielding a sledgehammer to bash the engine bay bulkhead into a shape to allow the V8 to slide into place...!
Between 1964 and 1967 two versions of the Tiger were built: the Series I fitted with a 4.3 litre Ford V8; and the Series II, of which only 633 were produced, had a 4.7 litre V8. In total, production reached just over 7,000 cars.
Top speed was a little over 120mph, and the Series l saw off the 0 - 60 mph dash in 8.6 seconds, with the larger engined Series ll knocking about a second off that time.
Powerful cars, they could prove a little problematic for the period suspension and tyres. The only changes for the Tiger's suspension compared to the Alpine's were stiffer front springs and a panhard rod at the back. Brakes stayed the same. However, Motor Sport magazine obviously liked the car as it said "No combination of an American V8 and a British chassis could be happier."
On the competition front, Tigers were raced and rallied in Europe taking first, second and third places in the 1964 Geneva Rally, 4th in the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally, and first in 1965 Alpine Rally. Two Tigers also entered the 1964 Le Mans 24 hour race, but retired early with mechanical problems.
Production of the Sunbeam Tiger ended in 1967 soon after the Rootes Group was taken over by Chrysler. This was due to Chrysler not wanting a competitor's engine under the bonnet, but not having a V8 of their own which would fit.
To buy a good one today you need £40,000 to £50,000 and be quick off the mark for they are very desirable and values are appreciating nicely.
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