UPDATE: this one was previously posted by Barn Finds writer extraordinaire, Todd Fitch, as shown here.
The seller’s listing teases us with an opening photo showing a beautiful car in perfect condition and it sure looks like that’s very doable with this car given how solid it appears to be. This is a 1969 Sunbeam Alpine GT fastback and they have it posted here on craigslist in West Bloomfield, Michigan. They’re asking $2,500 or you can chat about a possible trade. Thanks to rex m for sending in this tip!
This car isn’t in perfect condition, in fact, it needs a full restoration. That’s a scary thought but they say that there is no rust on this one, maybe due to being a Montana car and also having been hidden away for an unknown number of years. They say that it ran when it was parked and they got it running recently off of a bottle of gas so that’s a good sign. The no-rust part is the best part for me having grown up in the upper Midwest.
The Sunbeam Alpine was made beginning in 1969 and the company was a part of the once huge Rootes Group which ended up being bought out by Chrysler of Europe. The comparison to the early Plymouth Barraduca body style is legendary and spot on. Although, the Barracuda fastback rear window was a one-piece affair, unlike this three-piece rear/side window set up. The GT was a $175 option and gave a bit more horsepower and other features. The underside looks solid and should hopefully clean up nicely. The trunk also looks solid. Yes, this isn’t a hatchback but has a trunk or boot.
You can see the faded but almost perfect body on this car in the photos, but the interior is really where a lot of the work will need to take place. It’s rough inside, really rough. Oddly enough, the back seat looks almost perfect, at least the vinyl weave pattern does which might be the hardest part to replicate. Parts may be interesting to source unless the next owner is a master craftsman/woman and can remake parts and pieces, and redo the cracked padded dash top and trashed wood dash. The original list price is basically what the seller is asking for this one now. Hagerty is at $18,200 for a #1 Concours condition car so there isn’t a lot of leeway here as far as just trailering it to a restoration shop and giving them a blank check.
The engine is not anything that would have been available in a Barracuda, though – this is a twin-carb 1.7L inline-four with around 94 horsepower. The seller says that it ran when the original owner parked it many years ago, which is usually the case. At least it fires up now so it’s not seized and this car is small enough to be a fun family restoration project. Have any of you owned or driven a Sunbeam Alpine GT?
Wasn’t this just featured a short time ago?
Yas, sir… the seller lowered their price to $2,500.
I owned a non-GT Alpine for several years, and beautiful example I had bought in Sourthern Oregon for $1000. It made the 160 mile drive north to my house with no issues and I continued to drive for several years. The delta between the GT and the Alpine being the dual carbs and aluminum head on the GT and GT badges on the vinyl covered C-pillar. Never had any major problems with it, it wasn’t fast but it was a good looking car and always started and ran well. They share the same engines with the earlier Alpine convertibles so parts were a breeze to get, but once you needed some specific to that body it was a bit of a hunt…….
Last week I took delivery of a 1969 Sunbeam Alpine coupe with 3600 original miles. I believe it to be the finest example in the country and am extremely happy with my purchase. I think any buyer of this example is looking at a hefty price tag to fully restore it.
Hi Robin, when you have the chance please contact me.
Thank you,
Varand
Great project. Definitely not a “me too” car. If it were here in the beautiful southern states I would be checking it out!
might have said this the last time? but french stylin outside positively brit under hood & interior. Guess this came B4 the cuda?
It’s a 69….. the Barracuda was already out. It really does remind me of the early Barracudas though! 🤔 Build a hot little slant 6 with a hyper-pak……do something odd ball and one off…….. resto-mod the heck out of it and make it one of the most popular weekend cars and coffee conversation pieces
Has anyone “Tigerized” one of these?
I get the desire for originality, but as has been mentioned a very long haul to get this one there. Conceivably much shorter going a modified route, saving the shape and interesting style, while adding a performance tilt.
My oldest brother bought a 69 Alpine GT around October of 70. When he started college in the fall of 72 he had became a master mechanic.
My oldest brother bought a 69 Alpine GT around October of 70. When he started college in the fall of 72 he had decided that he had had enough and parked it in my fathers barn.