I have to admit, I hadn’t heard of this automobile until now. The Harrington LeMans is a Sunbeam Alpine with a fixed fiberglass roof that was built in the 1960s. Production numbers were few, only about 250 in total, and half of those came to the U.S. That would explain the left-hand drive setup present in the seller’s car. The seller believes this rare auto could be worth a small fortune when restored, and yet it appears to have been neglected and has lived out in the backyard for years. Located in Santa Maria, California, this rarity is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $8,500. Thanks for the head up, Barn Finder Steve Boelhouwer!
Harrington began as a coachbuilding company late in the 19th Century. Their initial lot in life was to develop bodywork for buses. By 1960, their business model had changed, and they were working on automobile bodies. The Harrington Alpine (developed in conjunction with Sunbeam) debuted in 1961. It was based on the Alpine Series II, focused on large tailfins, and maybe 110 of them were made. This inspired Harrington to work on the LeMans which participated in the 24 Hours of LeMans that year. Gone were the tailfins and output grew to 250 units.
According to the seller, this LeMans has the requisite Stage 3 engine with a Weber carburetor, exhaust header, and other drivetrain components that would be correct for the period. It’s not complete, missing some of its side trim pieces. It’s apparent this auto has been sitting for ages and has been largely forgotten.
We found a similar example of this which was a racecar that went for big bucks (though it has fins), but that was nearly 20 years ago. Restoring this car will be a huge undertaking in both time and money. And finding parts or body pieces may be as challenging as Harrison Ford searching for the Lost Ark. Is this a project you’d entertain?
Too small a write up, I am curious about this.
Another new marker in the book of racing.
Would be a hellacious amount of work but definitely worth the historical value even as a none runner to the right person.
Looking at the engine I can rightly assume it is a none runner of the highest order. Think maybe it’s eligible for the first “you’ve got to be kidding” award for January if for nothing else the asking price.
The engine is the usual Rootes Group unit that was in many cars for decades and parts for a rebuild should be plentiful. With the exception of the roof, trim and hardware parts should be standard Alpine. Being in CA, I would guess no terminal rot so not the worst restoration project.
How in ‘tarnation could anyone let something like this become that? You can’t tell me, wherever this was stored, someone didn’t recognize what it was, especially in California. An Alpine with a fastback, a Sunbeam GT6+ or MGBGT, sort of. And not that corny Sunbeam Barracuda( Rapier?) thing, either, this is really cool. I think there must be plenty of Alpine parts, just not around here. I can only imagine how painful this must be for a Brit to see. On behalf of all us Yanks that feel the same, keep a stiff upper lip, bloke,,at least it was one Alpine that didn’t become a Tiger,,,yet.
When I was growing up in central NJ, the school bus passed the home of a septic tank guy who had a 1957 Corvette parked in a side yard, sunk to the frame in the mud, which he used primarily as the anchor (front bumper) for his dog’s chain. A couple of years later I was dating a girl who lived just down the road. Her father told me the Vette showed up one day on a truck, they drove it up the road once, drove it back, parked it, and it had not moved since (approximately 20 years at that point). Apparently the guy got so annoyed with people asking if it was for sale that he decided to let it sit there and rot.
As the warden said: Some men you just can’t reach.
Only seen one other, it’s in beautiful shape and, largely due to its rarity, is always a draw at the annual British meetup.
Shame someone would let this special car rot like this. But Alpine parts are still fairly easy to get.
Does it have Whitworth fasteners?
as a tiger owner i belong to a few alpine-tiger groups.i have passed this on.these are really attractive cars definitely worth doing,parts mainly easy to get its an alpine call sunbeam specialties in cal…..got everything
I saw this when it was first listed and live close by. I like the fastback style and rarity, but the condition is daunting! My last Sunbeam was an Italian alloy bodied Venezia (google it if curious). Since I’m in the process of reducing my collection, and just listed 12 cars for sale, it makes no sense to add another big project to my hoard.
cars please…
Is there a place to buy all the glass for this car?
Like to know where, for future projects.
Thank you !
If the glass can’t be traced to a mass-production car (not unusual among British and European “specials” builders, I believe there are auto-glass shops that can fabricate new windows. I doubt it’s inexpensive, but this car would likely be a labor of love….
I’ve seen a couple of Harringtons — including one brand-new examples, a lot of years ago — and they are quite attractive in person. I believe almost everything save some body panels is standard Alpine, so parts ought to be possible.
If only I had the time and money….
The hardtop glass is only problem, screen and doors are stock Alpine. If not stored eith the car, it would be easy to reproduce the 3/4 and rear windows in plastic. As you say, glass repro is possible but more difficult/expensive.
I’ve also seen a few Harringtons over the years and recall that the Le Mans version was the rarest/ top of the range version. Must be very rare in LHD and there will be people in EU interested because of that.
I agree, for the right person thete is definite value in this offer.
Interesting and rare car indeed. I have seen at least 2 of these appear at HSR and SVRA meets in PA and OH in recent years. A question for the experts though: Did the Harringtons actually come with the down draught Weber carb / manifold? I would have thought 2 SUs would be standard.
RB
Strombergs, I think?
Actually they came with Twin Zenith down draft carbs. Same as a S2,3 and 4 Alpine.
Was in the FC fixing trade in the 70s, and whenever I see one of these downdraft Webers it takes me back, not necessarily with a smile. Many a Datsun and Toyota got them when their jap carb proved to be unfixable, and there were quite a few. Then you got the adapter, finagled the linkage, and your Corona carried on. Hated it!
If you take a look at the boneyard full of Sunbeams from today’s (1/9) email you’ll see there a pic of the dual downdraft setup that @junkman refers to.
Is the rear window the same as a Triumph GT6 or some other car of the era? If not, that alone is enough to frighten the skittish away.
Why do people do this to cars?? Hopefully this rare Sunbeam is saved.
I was wondering the exact same thing… WHY
And leave ever opening on the engine open… Why?
Interesting in its own way, but too bad it doesn’t look like the Le Mans Sunbeam Tiger
The Alpine club has a Harrington section on its website and this car has been discussed there. Here is the link for anyone who is interested.
https://forum.sunbeamalpine.org/index.php?threads/hlm-on-marketplace.32472/
A pal of mine had a finned one about 30 years ago. They also did kits to fit MGs and Triumphs, if I remember right.
This is a fast way to get upside-down on a restoration REALLY quick! It’s gonna need Jay Leno resources.
See some of the informed comments by marque specialists above. Perfectly feasible to restore this rare car. Maybe not to make a profit, but not to lose a fortune if costs are controled.
In about 1961, I saw one of these on the road in York, Pennsylvania, and for some reason it has remained stuck in the weird car section of my mind ever since. If the frame is decent, this one deserves restoration. There’s good support for Sunbeams in England, and the engine can’t be all that complicated. This seller won’t exactly be inundated by eager buyers, so take a pocketful of cash and negotiate.
May be FREE come & get it, not work buying, Ive had a few sunbeam Alpines But would not buy this ,like i said FREE
A friend of mine living in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) had one of these when it was only a few years old and he swore by it. I never got to drive it as I had an Austin Healey 100/4 at the time and the Harrington was no opposition to the Healey, however, I have to admit that it was a great looking car.
This car is known in the area with the Sunbeam gang, missing parts, but if underside is still intact,it will be saved.
The door glass and all top windows are specific to the Harrington LeMans Coupe. The side trims are also HLM specific. This car appears to have had a VIN change at some point. These came stock with an electric overdrive and factory race tuned engine. Cool little cars, but not a simple Alpine resto.Best take the #s off the engine and find what you’ve really got here.
From the back it nearly looks like a GT6+
I have the time…as long as i am alive,the money and the contacts to do this project. out of room 3 cars 12 motorcycles and building another garage around here would take longer than the car…still..
https://www.jigidi.com/jigsaw-puzzle/yx3gw7f1/sunbeam-harrington-le-mans-1964/
and
herein lgt blue’n gold pics
https://richardlangworth.com/sunbeam-harrington
can’t by-pass w/o payin better respects, eh?
(my excuse anyway)
I recall seeing an article about these in the British magazine “Classic and Sportscar” about 30 years ago. I hope it gets saved.