Ah, the treacherous landscape of Sunbeam Tiger acquisition. This car is represented by a seller who acquired it in the belief that it was a real Tiger. But a check with the Tiger Authentication Committee (TAC) revealed that it was actually rebodied in Alpine sheet metal. This 1968 Sunbeam Tiger wannabe is for sale here on eBay, with bidding at $15,101, reserve not met. It’s described as a fun ride after a few mechanical repairs, thanks to the 289 cu. in. V8 under the hood. But! … it’s not a factory Tiger, badging and tags (lifted from the donor Tiger) notwithstanding. Must have been devastating to find out that your Tiger is merely a fast Alpine.
The car sat in a barn for years before being recommissioned by the seller. The carburetor was rebuilt, the brakes were refreshed, and the tires are new. It has an electronic distributor and and electric fuel pump. The 289 is believed to be original equipment; it’s mated to a four-speed manual. The second generation Alpine was a leap ahead of competing British roadsters – with roll-up windows and a well-appointed interior – but the Rootes Group didn’t move it forward as MG and Triumph evolved. Just a few years after its 1959 launch date, the car felt aged and slow. It was also more expensive than the slightly swifter MGB. The Tiger – a partnership between the Rootes Group and Carroll Shelby – offered plenty of power at a reasonable production cost. That said, only about 7100 Tigers were made in three iterations from 1964 through 1967.
Our subject car’s interior is a bit the worse for wear, with mild damage to the upholstery, panels, and steering wheel. The convertible top is in useable condition, though, and the seller reports that the glass is top notch. Trunk photos show the battery and the spare – the location of these items was particular to the Tiger. The spare lies flat versus the Alpine’s vertical mount, and the battery was relocated to the rear quarters thanks to that V8 crowding the engine bay.
The Tiger’s body was constructed by Jensen Motors, while Rootes built the Alpine. When authenticating a Tiger, TAC focuses on finding the access panel for spark plug maintenance, the concavity in the firewall that accommodates the larger engine, rack and pinion steering mounts, and special bracing for the drivetrain – to name just a few of the more obvious variances. While a restorer can slap a few ID tags from a Tiger onto an Alpine and install a 289, he still has an Alpine. We all hope these cars are represented honestly, but that’s a hope – not always reality. This British roadster is an inexpensive avenue into vintage car ownership, offering better performance than its peers, and with a few needs that are easily addressable by a competent DIYer. What would you pay for this Tiger wannabe?
Being an Alpine the 289 won’t be original equipment. All Alpine cars came with 4 bangers. To me it doesn’t matter what it was or what’s been done to it. If it was put together properly it would be a hoot to wring out on some Twistys
That depends on whether you want to do the twisties frontward or back. A friend’s mother had a real Tiger and it was ready to slide the back out on the slightest provocation. A fake one without the mods Michelle mentioned would, I imagine, be even worse. Unsafe at any speed-
Could be wrong but I wouldn’t describe the Tiger as a partnership between Rootes and Shelby, Michelle. Rootes subcontracted Shelby to engineer the conversion, bit from then on I think it was developed ( broad term use of the word) and marketed by Rootes alone
Most Tigers had 260 cu in engines. I agree with you, as long as the price is right and the engineering is dound, I would happily buy this car.
Price is way too high.
I think it depends on whether you want it for bragging rights or a fun drive. Personally, I would rather have this than a show queen to park on a lawn for people to admire. It has the correct LAT 70 option wheels and looks quite solid and for the current bid looks like a great deal. If I had the dough, I would flog the devil out of it and have fun doing it.
The dealer has it on their website for $37,500. This is the 5th car featured from this dealer since Tuesday.
Not sure what the value of an Alpine with some Tiger parts is, but their price feels high for a rebadged car. At least the seller disclosed the information before selling the car to an unsuspecting customer who would inevitably sue.
Steve R
The price is REALLY high for a V-8 Alpine. Shelby didn’t just drop a 260 (or later, a 289) into an Alpine and send her off to the dance. Just about everything about the car was upgraded. The frame was selectively reinforced. all the suspension was modified, even the electrical didn’t bear much resemblance to the factory Sunbeam system. This is a pretty neat little car, but I most definitely would not drive it like a true Tiger, nor would I pay what the seller thinks a counterfeit is worth.
This is the 1st time I have ever heard that Jensen built the Tiger.
There were some suspension differences, and a chrome trim but otherwise it was the same as the Alpine.
I’d add a prop shoe phone for a “Get Smart” tribute car! Nice find!
This project looks like it was done right. Buy it as a nice driver and not worry whether its a real Tiger! Only those purists will object. It shouldn’t be bought as an investment car…. Drive it!! As a hybrid, I give the ‘projecteer’ credit for his upgrade. It’s another save of an old classic in a newer stance! I enjoy putting a ‘pieces’ car together from a few different donors because I enjoy the work and not necessarily that I have an OE car when completed! I look at the situation as saving another older vehicle from the dregs of a damp garage or barn!!!
What he said…
I don’t believe that it’s a matter of “purists” verses “fakes”, my point is that driving this like a true Tiger (ie: putting it through an autocross or throwing it around some mountain curves) will reveal pretty quickly that an Alpine with a V-8 is not the same as a Tiger. If your goal is to just putt around having a bit of fun then this is the car for you.
aS FAR AS i KNOW THE FIREWALL WERE MOVED BACK SOME INCHES TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE BIG v8. so IN MY OPINION THE BALANCE IS COMPROMISED.
Dealer wants high 30’s for a fake Tiger? Good luck with that.
Just a couple points. Most noticeably the trim rings are missing from the headlights which gave real Mark 1A Tigers a slightly more aggressive look. These were body coloured and removable to replace headlamps.
Mark 1 Tigers had the 260 cu in V8 and Mark 1A had the 289 cu in V8. Interesting attempt at disguising flat out fraud with faux honesty.
Lots of hidden rot if you know where to look and the wiring looks like a plate of spaghetti. The dealer’s asking price is outrageous. It would be a fun car if the quality was better
In the late 1980s, I worked at a high-end car service and parts shop in WPB, Fl. (across the bridge from Palm Beach), the land of Lambos, Ferraris, and Porsches. A customer had a 289 Tiger; that car was the most fun to drive!
The Tiger was not constructed by Jensen, it was assembled by Jensen.
Basically, they did the necessary mods to convert an Alpine into a Tiger.
Ronald L Jordan: I can assure you that “other than a few suspension differences” a Tiger is anything but “the same as an Alpine”. If anything, the only similaritie is in the sheet metal.
It says the “body” was constructed by Jensen, not the car.
Rootes did not have the production capacity to handle a small-batch specialty car. Jensen built the bodies, Rootes performed the assembly. For everyone who thinks that the Tiger body is the same as the Alpine, it is not. TAC information can be found here:
https://sunbeamtiger.org/index.php/tac/program
Tell me exactly which body parts are not interchangeable between the Alpine and the Tiger.
sell it like a alpine HOTROD. dannys shelbys
This thing must be a hoot to drive. I was driving a Tiger and tried to catch a yellow light. A 78 Chevelle was anticipating the light changing heading in the other direction. We were both doing about 45/50. He clipped me right behind the drivers door…. I did about 3 doughnuts in one direction, hit the light pole and did 3 doughnuts in the other direction. I was dizzy for a week.
Michael: last year of Chevelle in 1977, in 78 the name was dropped & a smaller A body was called Malibu.
Not the typical “Alger” as this one had a rare Mark II Tiger (536 built) as the donor car (per the VIN and JAL numbers). That means it had the 289 from the factory (Mk I and Mk IA Tigers had the 260). The factory 2-barrel has been replaced by a period-correct Edelbrock F4B intake and 4-barrel carb. The grille, headlight rims and “Sunbeam” script on the hood/bonnet are Mk II items. Unfortunately it lacks the rare and pricey Mk II stainless rocker panel and wheel arch trim. Tiger-specific items such as the air filter housing, fan shroud, expansion tank and remote oil filter are present, though.
Back in the day a “rebody” like this wasn’t that unusual. Agree the dealer price is too high especially in the current Tiger market. Would be fun for the right price, though.
aS FAR AS i KNOW THE FIREWALL WERE MOVED BACK SOME INCHES TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE BIG v8. so IN MY OPINION THE BALANCE IS COMPROMISED..