Looking a little sad, this Evart, Michigan classic features an interesting motor swap, an EFI Ford V6 from the late 20th or early 21st century. This 1960 Sunbeam Alpine’s V6 puts it part-way between the original four-cylinder engine and the V8-powered Sunbeam Tiger. If you want a junk-yard Ford V6, Michigan, America’s ancestral home of automobile manufacturing, makes the perfect place to find one. The seller suggests the “Alleycat people” may still be in business, but the only references I could find to Alleycat was Allycat wheels and a Nissan / Datsun swap specialist in California. Every Sunbeam Alpine picture I’ve found has a smooth hood, so maybe our British sports car fans can comment on the odds that bulge is unique to this motor-swapped Sunbeam, and details on the “Alleycat” reference.
Aside from the angled nose of its intake manifold, this looks like the 3.0L (182 cid) Vulcan V6 from a Ford Ranger pickup such as this 1997 specimen. With Electronic Fuel Injection and distributorless coil pack ignition, these made about 140 HP and powered an array of Fords including the FWD Tempo and Taurus. This longitudinal RWD setup suggests a Ranger or Aerostar van donor. Though 140 HP sounds tepid, every automaker had a 140 HP V6 in the ’80s and early ’90s when they split the difference between sub-100 HP four-cylinders and the era’s low 200 HP V8s. Hemmings claims the original four-cylinder engines made around 85 HP, so this low-budget swap brings about 65% more thrust than stock, despite its plebian origins. Thanks to CurbsideClassic for some details.
Designers of the late ’60s knew they needed fins, and the Alpine does not disappoint. Check those crazy side pipes! Five slot mags and chrome side pipes were sure to make your unemployed Camaro-driving neighbor jealous. Throw on some traction bars and hang fuzzy dice from the rear-view mirror and the look is complete. I bought my first car from my parents, a German-built 1973 Mercury Capri, and it wore side pipes like this when they bought it used in the late ’70s.
I think I remember that shifter console from the J.C. Whitney catalog. The Ford V6 evidently came with an automatic transmission, a regrettable downgrade in a British sportscar, considering there was probably a wrecked 3.0 five-speed Ranger within 20 miles of Evart when the conversion took place. The interior is fast-food-ready so hit the drive-through and don’t worry if a fry drops into the crevices; you’ll get it later. This little Alpine just needs some sun and a pleasant stretch of two-lane byway to make you forget its low points. Check out the description here on Craigslist where $5400 puts the title to this unique classic in your name. Will you buy this V6-swapped Tiger wannabe?
1960? Huh, I never knew the Alpine had such a run, 1954-1975. This series began in 1959, and thought due to the Tigers success, was more of a 60s thing. While the 4 cylinder is plenty for me, the V8, I felt, was always too much for these, and a V6 makes a lot more sense. I generally don’t care for any V6, except the old GMC ones, but I have a neighbor that put an astonishing 420,000 on a Ranger with a V6. I never heard of such a thing. The tail lights look swoopier than I remember, but tis’ stock. The Alpine was a great car, and so overlooked because of the Tiger. Side pipes on a Capri? Okay, whatever,,,
If for no other reason then the alley cat name! I’ve been known to low brow tendencies like drinking by noon, loose women & horse tracks so this sort of fits my motif! I kind of wish it had maybe a little more grunt so a sneak pete nitrous setup would fit it nicely , yes I’m alley cat bound as we speak
Among Tiger owners the alley cat is a Tribute aka Clone.
When searching to purchase a Tiger it could be very easy to end up with illegitimate alley cat instead of a Tiger.
These things do happen from time to time.
Thank you!
I sell akit to install the Ford 2.8 V6 in the Sunbeam Alpines mated ro a late Mustang T5 transmission. Pretty peppy for a 2000 lb vehicle.
My Blue Boy does very well with the 2.8. Factory disc brakes on the front and my rear disc lit for the rear makes for a good stop.
Check it out at SAOCA Forum. An welcome to the world of Sunbeam Alpines.
DanR
Cool car. Kinda really dig it. That shifter looks like an old B&M to me. A 4.0…..or even better, an Ecoboost swap would be that much better!