I’m not sure exactly what a prior owner had in mind when this Cobra-esque nose was grafted onto this unsuspecting Sunbeam Tiger, but supposedly the work was done in all metal. That may make it more difficult to return to stock appearance, assuming you want to, but front end sheet-metal is the same as Alpines, so it can be obtained. The Tiger is located in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Canada and is offered for sale here on eBay, where spirited bidding is up to almost $8,000 but has not yet met the reserve. This car has been in the barn since 1985 and no one has attempted to start or move it since then. While the floor is concrete and the barn described as dry, the rockers are rusted and the non-original flared fender lips are also showing some rust. Another Ford V-8 has been substituted for the original one, but the original engine is included with the sale. Lots of empty nut shells courtesy of local squirrels are included as well! Would you leave the nose as-is, or return it to original?
The seller says the engine in the car has a 4-barrel Holley and Edelbrock manifold. I could be wrong, but it looks like a 2-barrel on a stock manifold to me. That’s what the early Tigers had, and the first Tiger that I ever drove was one of those. Performance was……lazy.
Tigers are still appreciating, but the work that this car would need to make it into something worth what people are paying for them is way more than I would be interested in taking on, especially since it will probably sell for pretty good money in this auction. Too bad about that nose, but Jamie’s suggestion to replace it with an Alpine nose probably makes the most sense.
would lose the nose for sure and also those wheels
I believe they were on about giving this Sunbeam a Ferrari 250mm look. Done in steel, this was done by a very talented body worker, but save that talent for restoring a classic!!
Agreed. The egg crate grille behind the oval is Ferrariesque.. But without the right proportions the nose just looks awkward
This was a kit that was available back in the day, the original after market add on. And yes they were metal and the body work likely cost more then the kit. Check out JC Whitney
Maybe there’s a manifold and carb in the trunk.
I agree with Dolphin, that looks like a 2bbl Holley to me.
Also, is there a water shortage in Ontario? Why take pictures of dirty cars. I can see those anywhere.
I am sure I owned that car back in the 70s in St Catharines ON.it was blue back then.