In 1901, the first Sunbeam motorcar was manufactured in the midst of a factory that made bicycles, and by 1905, Sunbeam Motor Car Company existed as a standalone business. Models proliferated, spurred by its chief designer’s fondness for racing. After WWI, the company was sold to Darracq in France, becoming one of many divisions under that company’s umbrella. Unfortunately, Darracq – via its Talbot nameplate – responded to the end of the war by hiking engine size and hurtling into the luxury niche. While a few good years followed, the Great Depression rang in austerity, and other makers, with their four-cylinder engines, beat Talbot badly in the race for scarce sales. France didn’t help matters when it hiked taxes on large-engined cars, crushing its own national brands. In 1935 Sunbeam entered receivership and was sold to Rootes. Rootes’ only interest was badge engineering. It swiftly turned out Sunbeam-Talbots based on Hillman mechanicals and utilizing the streamlined, Art Deco design idiom of the ’30s. The market grew impatient with the underpowered cars, however, eventually prompting Rootes to introduce the Sunbeam-Talbot 90 in 1948. Here on eBay is a 1954 Sunbeam-Talbot 90 Mk IIA, bid to $3001 with no reserve, and located in Santa Ana, California. Thanks, T.J., for this real barn-find tip!
The 2267 cc in-line four-cylinder makes about 77 hp and can propel the car to around 90 mph, an improvement over earlier versions of the same mode. This one isn’t running, after sitting for many moons. The factory gearbox was a problematic column shift four-speed from Hillman that had a poor reputation for losing synchros. Owners have been known to swap these out for Jag Moss boxes, or at least to relocate the shifter to the floor. I asked for an engine bay photo; will update this article if the seller provides one. Here’s what the engine should look like. In the meantime, barely visible above is the sunroof that was standard on all saloons.
The interior is tan cloth and most items appear to be present – lucky since parts are very difficult to source. The rear doors are rear-hinged; the rear window displays Sunbeam’s trademark reverse curvature. The back seats offered ample room for a couple of children.
The car’s most unfortunate angle is its dumpling rear – with a trunk reminiscent of 1940s styling. The California black plates still hang on the front and back. Clearly, this car needs everything, though I suppose the patina will be appealing enough to some to just leave it be. Aside from the condition, this car suffers from being one of the less desirable versions of the Sunbeam Talbot: you could have a convertible, a drop-head coupe, or even the Mk III saloon with overdrive. This average-condition 1953 Mk IIA sold for just $9,100. Slightly redeeming this car is the resounding success that met the saloon on rallies: Stirling Moss finished second in the 1952 Monte Carlo Rally flogging a 90 around. And then there’s this 2017 Great Race participant here. If I owned this car, I’d make it a rally car; what about you?
Suicide doors and all.What is there not to like.I wouldn’t pay over 3k for it though. Cool looking car I’d try and get running .If it’s toast ls it. I like the curved hump in back actually.Glwts.
A rare survivor in LHD. And, yes, the one to have is the convertible, as driven by Grace Kelly in the movie To Catch a Thief.
Grace’s ride was a Sunbeam Alpine (based on the S-T 90).
Not liking the protruding headlights.
I like this car, and the grill resembles a RR grill, kinda amazing that they would do that. I certainly would try to fix this one up to be as close to the original in looks, but would definitely look to get a better gear box. All in all, not a bad looking car for 1954.
I had a friend that had a Sunbeam Motorcycle. Wonder if its the same Sunbeam…
There were a few of these exported to West Coast, where Rootes representative Ian Garrard was very close to the Rootes brothers. His father, Norman, ran the works competition program.
And it was Ian Goddard who later asked Shelby to try to fit a Ford V8 into an Alpine, aka Sunbeam Tiger. I think Ken Miles actually did the work.
The Monte Carlo Rallye was won by one of these..
I nearly bought one, test drove it for about 15 minutes before returning it to the seller as it couldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding! Beautifully finished and Rootes car doors always closed just by pushing the door with your little finger ,and never rattled and never let any road wind in. Great cars from that perspective.
I was watching a Youtube video a few days ago with George Raft playing an undercover FBI agent who flew to the UK to help the British Secret Service catch some Russian spies (a Cold War era movie). Of course, there was an attractive Blonde secret service agent who drove one of these Sunbeams. George and the Blonde became close as the movie progressed and he drove the right hand drive Sunbeam through the streets of London shadowing the spies.
However, what surprised me, even though the movie was black & white, the colour of the car appeared to be metallic paint. The car in this article appears the same. I wasn’t aware that metallics were used this early.
My mother has a 1953 Sunbeam Talbot. It was my Dad’s first car. She would like to get rid of it to clear some space in her garage. His is not all original but is a roller. She wonders if someone just wants it. It is in primer and almost ready for paint.