Is there anything better than real-world pictures of how a car looked in as-raced condition? I don’t think so, as this seller of a 1965 Sunbeam Tiger includes photo documentation of how his car looked when it was at the drag strip. The Tiger was the high performance British muscle car featuring 260 or 289 Ford engines, and they’re sought after today in original, unmodified form. This Tiger isn’t that, but it still looks like a highly desirable specimen worthy of putting back to drag-ready condition, especially considering some of the modifications that have been made. Find it here on craigslist in Southern California where the seller has listed it for sale for $7,000 due to injury, and thanks to Barn Finds reader Pat L. for the find.
The Tiger as it sits today is slightly less photogenic, missing its torch red pink job and drivetrain. Still, that makes it ripe for dropping in the engine of your choice, though a period-correct build would be the way I’d bring this Tiger back to road-going condition. The Tiger has been modified for drag racing, with the seller noting that it features a narrowed Ford nine-inch rear end with ladder bars, original Tiger crossmember with disc brakes, and custom aluminum panels throughout. As you can see in the archival photos, the Tiger was raced with the early Alpine hardtop it still wears today.
The interior features what looks like high-end bucket seats, but no word on their origins. The missing floors are likely due to the aluminum panels the seller mentioned, which are presumably removable. The seller confirms there is no rust to speak of, and southern California living should ensure that it’s never been in the conditions that render so many Tigers into a rolling carcass filled with bondo and rot holes. The dash shows no sign of any gauges, and it makes you wonder what happened to this Tiger: did the current seller strip it down for restoration, or were all the desirable / resell-able parts pulled by a previous owner and the Tiger sold as a rolling shell?
The historic photos show what looks like a fairly intense setup with huge slicks in the rear and you have to wonder what engine setup it had when it was in the peak of its drag racing career. It’s also interesting to ponder whether this Tiger left the showroom floor and went straight into its racing career, never spending a moment as a standard passenger car. Either way, any Tiger is worth restoring that isn’t folding in on itself, and this one has a lot going for it as either a solid platform worth returning to stock, or building a sympathetic tribute vehicle to its drag racing past. Which option would you choose?
With the tail light of a ’66 Nova in the last picture. I’d guess this went from showroom to strip. After modifications of coarse.
Has an Alpine hardtop off of a Series 2 or 3.
Series 1/2 I think. Which is strange, as the Tiger had 1/4 light windows as can be seen in first pic. The series III Alpine kept the tail fins but had the later hardtop with side window.
Anyhow, I like this car!
I agree those clothes , the nova the pickup all say early 70″s at the latest so it was race car a long time ago.
could this be taken back to stock looking, still high performance?
Lose the wheel well flares, nice tire /wheel combo, lowered with good suspension, big compression sb Ford with a 5spd and go road carving
Have to love the Sunbeam Tiger. Built in England, powered by Ford and sold by Chrysler. LOL
You forgot, developed by C. Shelby hisself! Yessiree truly it was.
First picture a 1978 or later elcamino in the background
In that same picture, on the far lanes retaining wall you can see signage that says “scoop” in red letters. That was for a drag racing publication called Drag Scoop which ceased publishing in 1981.
Steve R
1977, I know, I shot it.
Drop a mild small block in, return it to its past look/stance with new paint (green of course) and cruise it weekly.
It’s horribly outdated as a race car. However, it would be a standout park in the paddock of a nostalgia race or any car show. Converting it to a street legal version of its drag racing roots would cost a fraction of what it would take to restore it. Much of its on track character is still intact, it just needs a 302 based Windsor engine, which are plentiful and inexpensive, plus some well chosen 60’s and early-70’s performance parts. This car represents a time when home built race cars were the norm at every track, but have largely disappeared, it’s worthy of a renewal on that basis alone.
Steve R
Yep . . . Alcohol drinking injected screaming small block. Wheelies bars not optional
Lifting the front tires on a hard launch at Carlsbad Raceway! Recognized that place right off. Track has been long gone for years now, but it was a fun place to both race and spectate. Good memories.
ABSOULTY Fab I once bought the same idea out of a barn in Orrange ville ontario. I shold have kept it cry cry. Dannys Mustangs kitchener oh by the way it was a 57 corvette Gasser.
Gone!
Located in Orange County