- Seller: Jeffrey R
- Location: Hanover, Massachusetts
- Mileage: 150 Shown
- Chassis #: B9202310LRX
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 1592cc Inline-4
- Transmission: 4-Speed Manual
The Sunbeam Alpine has been driven by some notable people. Sean Connery drove one in the first James Bond movie, Dr. No, and Formula One World Champion Jack Brabham smiled in advertisements behind the wheel of an Alpine, proclaiming that it was “[his] kind of car.” If those two classic hallmarks of machismo approved of the Rootes Group’s example of what a sports car should be, who am I to argue? This 1963 model is a Series III, the rarest of the Alpines, with only 5,863 being built between March 1963 and January 1964. The GT, offered here as a Barn Finds Auction, is even rarer. With a standard hardtop (no softtop was offered at all) and a slightly detuned engine, it was designed as a more relaxed alternative to the standard “Tourer.”
Don’t panic when I say that the engine was detuned for Grand Touring duties; it was still the same basic 1.6-liter four found under the hood of the rest of the Alpine line. Instead of the Tourer’s 82 horsepower, the GT lost five for a total of 77. The engine in this Alpine has been rebuilt, and the owner has replaced the standard carburetors with a Weber 32/36, in addition to upgrading the transmission to a full-synchro unit. The gas tanks have been cleaned and sealed using POR-15 products. When new, the GT would accelerate from zero to sixty in 14.8 seconds on its way to a 98-mile-per-hour top speed, while delivering fuel mileage in the 25-mile-per-gallon range.
The current owner has completely restored the interior, including a new dash pad, seat foam, upholstery, door panels, carpet, and a refurbished wood steering wheel. New weatherstripping has been installed, and the glass in the GT hardtop has been replaced. The seller states that all of the gauges work as they should.
The seller has posted dozens of excellent photographs of the entire car, including detail shots of areas that are typically rusty on British sports cars, so you can feel confident in the solid condition of this Alpine.
Finally, the exterior has been treated to a recent paint job, so no proverbial stone has been left unturned on this cute little sports car (ahem, Grand Tourer) from Sunbeam. The Series III was a transition model; it was the last to feature the prominent fins first introduced with the Series I in 1959 (when fins were at their peak, ha ha), but it also had an improved dashboard, twin fuel tanks for increased luggage capacity, telescopic rear shocks instead of lever shocks, and some upgrades to the front end. Odds are that this is one of the only Alpine GTs you’ll find for sale this week, so if you’re ready for a tour, bid now!
Bid On This Auction
John J bid $4,100.00 2025-04-25 11:21:29
Paul F bid $4,000.00 2025-04-24 20:53:27
verdegeo bid $3,650.00 2025-04-24 19:19:53
Circle Motors bid $3,500.00 2025-04-24 18:20:56
MartyOpp bid $3,250.00 2025-04-24 12:42:50- verdegeo bid $3,000.00 2025-04-24 10:27:10
Senap bid $2,800.00 2025-04-23 23:58:06- MartyOpp bid $2,500.00 2025-04-22 13:50:11
- Circle Motors bid $2,000.00 2025-04-18 18:15:02
Pretty darn cool. Hey if Sean Connery could fit in one I probably could too, except maybe my head would be above the windshield. I already have the Peaky Blinders style cap. I’ll be watching to see what it goes for.
Does anyone else think this is a series 1with a matching removable hard top? Always thought the series 3 lost the big fins and had the Chrysler pentastar emblem on the lower corner of the front fender.I’ve never heard of this model, and have seen Alpine G Ts that are styled most differently. I would like to know more about this car. One would think the overdrive unit would be mounted. Please enlighten me All you old Sunbeam lovers.
Original fuel system still available?
S3 was made before Chrysler bought them out. Overdrive was an option.
Yes I still have the original Zenith carbs and manifold. I will include them with the car if the winner would like them. It is running an original fuel pump.
Finally! Oh, the poor Alpine, always in the shadow of the Tiger. I say,,, a Tiger was a waste of a good Alpine. Don’t get me wrong, the Tiger is the most awesome car for the public, but it completely overshadowed what a nice car the Alpine was. From what I’ve seen, Sunbeam was a high class car for the Brits, an MG with pizzazz. We were so bamboozled, we wouldn’t even look at an Alpine, the few we saw, what a disappointment it’s not a Tiger. Alpines were rare and I’m glad to see one again. Wonderful cars.
Great looking Alpine! The trunk of the later models and the fins of the early models. Love the S3, if I didn’t already have an Alpine IV and a Tiger I would definitely put this GT in my stable. GLWTA.
I see Tigers at local car shows but regular Alpine’s not so much. I thought this was a weird color for a British “sports car” of this vintage but it appears to be the regular paint color from the looks of the areas that were not repainted. The tail lights look twice as large as they needed to be and those fins throw off the proportions of the car. That said, I like it and would bid if I knew the reserve was reasonable enough. I suppose there’s only one way to find out.
British Racing Bronze! This Alpine is fabulous, and would be a lot fun driving it and at Cars and Coffee, and other meets. Too far from me and the left coast but I certainly would be interested if it was closer. This is a rare find and a great value.
Good luck!
Thanks for your comment Eric, these are really cool cars. This one is painted the original color which was Bronze, Sunbeam code #62. A good number of S3 GTs were # 68 Autumn Gold which is a more orange gold. I believe the reserve is very reasonable, considering you couldn’t do this car to this level for more than double my reserve.
Kenosha Auto Transport was the shipper (I think) or maybe just the area transport company, of all British cars circa 1960. Their port was Richmond in the east Bay. I recall seeing a warehouse full of Sunbeams along with Hillmans. Most were white and were covered with what they used in the day to prevent corrosion. When we drove a black four door Hillman Minx home I was disappointed we didn’t get a Sunbeam. My dear Mother loved that car. The smell of the leather always made a Canadian shopkeepers daughter think of luxury.
Very nice Alpine GT. The top is from a later model but looks right at home. We’re finishing up a cousin to this car in RHD. Lovely little cars that are easy to own.
I would be interested to hear why you think the top is not what belongs on this car. Series 3 was a hybrid between the early and late series cars. They share large fins and round cornered doors, trunks and hoods along with grills of the early cars. They share windshields, doors with quarter windows, hardtops and gas tank configurations with the later series. Some enthusiasts think they’re the best of both worlds.
Well I seem to learn something new every day. Thanks for the education!
This car is kinda nice in an offbeat way. At first I thought “removable hardtop”, but no, it’s “fixed head”. It’s a sports car that stays dry. And it’s a small car with big fins! I could get into daily-driving this and having fun doing it.
? The top comes off. Look at the pics.
Had a 62 high fin Alpine for 15 years, sold in 2010. Fun car I miss, especially now that Spring has sprung in Connecticut! Wish I could consider this one, good times! GLWS!!
LD71😃