The “Engine Goes Hmmm” has a new set of threads! Actually, it’s an old set of threads but it’s new to this most unusual of engine choices. This sharp-looking 1960 Sunbean Alpine is now sporting rotary power! Engine swaps are commonplace but this one’s a bit out there so let’s take a closer look. Located in Costa Mesa, California, this Sunbeam is available, here on Barn Finds Classifieds for $19,250.
If you think about engine swaps there are many that are commonplace today. The top of the list is probably a GM LS series taking the place of a traditional Chevrolet small-block. And what happens to all of those discarded small blocks? They find new digs in ’30s vintage Fords. And ’40s vintage Lincolns? They seem to favor rocket power in the form of an Oldsmobile V8. You’ll get some one-off unusual ones too. I knew of a guy, years ago, who owned a ’67 Chevelle SS396. He trashed the rat and replaced it with a Cadillac 429 CI V8. Why? Probably because it was available, cheap, and a Chevelle SS in the early ’70s was nothing more than a used car. How he got the mounts, linkage, etc. to mate up, I don’t know, but I did spy it once and it looked to be properly done. I knew another guy, in that same era, who shoehorned a Chevrolet 327 CI V8 into an Austin-Healey 3000. You wouldn’t have known it from the exterior other than the chrome, script “Chevrolet” badge affixed to Healey’s header panel.
So, how about a rotary engine in a Sunbeam Alpine? I’m no Sunbeam expert or a rotary engine aficionado for that matter, but this conversion looks well done, the rotary sits in the engine room as if it were always intended to be there. As for operating prowess, the seller claims, “As a driver, it’s a hoot“. One has to imagine that it has a bit more going on in the oomph department than it did with its original 84 HP, 1.5 liter, in-line four-cylinder, Series I engine. Unfortunately, the listing states nothing about the rotary’s provenance, but this video claims it to be a model 12A. Mums the word regarding the gearbox, it’s definitely a manual and probably a four-speed.
The external appearance is clean and sharp. The red finish is deep and there’s no sign of rust or crash damage. It wasn’t until watching the video that I realized this Alpine rolls on wire wheels – not what I would expect on a car so modified but, aesthetically, they work perfectly. The convertible top with its plastic rear window shows to be in fine nick.
The interior is another bright spot. The black vinyl upholstery is accentuated by red piping and the seatbacks proudly display Sunbeam patches. The floors and instrument panel are not pictorially revealed but there’s no reason to suspect that their condition is any less than the exterior’s excellence.
I could think of a lot of engines worthy of the old switcheroo in a Sunbeam Alpine, starting with a Ford Windsor of course, or a Chevy small-block or, dare I say, an LS… But a rotary? That would have never hit my list, how about yours?
I like it. More power in a good looking car makes things right in the world.
Now this is a sleeper.At least they didn’t put a Chevy mtr.in her.
Anyone else have the ” Get Smart ” theme going through their head after seeing this car ?
I was thinking “Batfink”. And maybe the original engine was interfering with his “radar” signal at high revs…
This is a nice looking series 1. I had one many moons ago and loved it. With the rotary power it should feel well balanced. Plenty quick with enough power to easily keep up with traffic. Another point is a interior that is big enough for the more mature driver. My opinion….. what’s not to like here.
A rotary is the perfect swap for a car that size. There was a company on Cape Cod that use to put that motor in bugeye sprites. They were screamers.
Is there some kind of disease here? I mean, have we come so far that someone has to turn a Sunbeam Alpine into an alleged rotary powered screamer? I agree, the rotary is a fantastic motor, probably on par with a Tiger but they are missing the point, as the Tiger proved. The Alpine was for leisurely drives down tree covered lanes, top down, wind tossling your hair, perhaps a white scarf flailing out the back, old pushrod 4 dependably chugging away, not blistering performance with every 9 grand gear change,,ugh,,,,it’s a kick in the knickers, it is.
Maybe the swapper was bald?
@Mikefromthehammer LOL
I have to agree with you Howard. I have owned MG’s, Austin Healey’s and even a Jensen-Healey but the most rewarding was the Sunbeam Alpine. It was a bit under powered but was a car that could be thrown around if the mood took me or just used as a cruiser where the girl friends hair didn’t get too mussed up. It also had plenty of room compared to the MG’s and the Healey and it never got oven hot inside even with the hard top on.
Just like America, England had cars, some fancier than others, and I always thought, if the Morris was a Rambler, Triumph/MG was a Chevy, a Sunbeam was a Buick. Some of the 50’s Sunbeam Saloons were fantastic cars, like a mini Rolls. I too have driven many British roadsters, but never an Alpine.
Seller here. I too had those concerns Howard A. This car has a very low chassis number making it one of the first Alpines to hit western shores. Some of us old timers, sometimes, occasionally, like to relive days of yore chugging along, oily knickers intact. If so, I did collect the original 1592, complete carbs to pan if one indeed wanted to go back to square 1. Chugging is available including the untouched crossmember. I’ll pull the little roundie for free and swap you even.
Roper, that.
While the 12a can wind-up to 8k, it only adds 16hp to the original 4 in stock form and probably has about the same torque. Now as 13b @135 hp would be the fun ticket.
Aftermarket intake, dual throat side draft Weber, probably a Racing Beat street header… more likely 150hp. Besides even a stock 12A would be a night/day difference from the Alpine engine. When comparing rotaries to pistons, simply looking at peak numbers does not tell the complete story. Steady smooth power delivery throughout the rpm range counts for much more than the average piston head realizes. This is an ideal powerplant for this car. Hopefully suspension upgrades were added too.
Also the matter of weight to consider, reckon the 12A may be much lighter than the original 4, improving the power/weight ratio.
A Buick GNX Turbo 6 cylinder motor would make it scoot. I heard that you can add rotor assemblies to make more power, don’t know if it’s true but it would be cool if your could. I could see a 10 or 12 rotor engine.
The eccentric shaft is the issue. Mazda made 3 rotor engines for the Cosmos. There is an aftermarket 4 rotor (eccentric shaft from a shop in Australia). The 4 rotor has the benefit of a middle support bearing. The 3 rotor needs a little more clearance due to eccentric shaft flex. The later Renesis 2 rotor, both 4 & 6 port were around 200 HP normally aspirated stock.
Seller here. I too had those concerns Howard A. This car has a very low chassis number making it one of the first Alpines to hit western shores. Some of us old timers, sometimes, occasionally, like to relive days of yore chugging along, oily knickers intact. If so, I did collect the original 1592, complete carbs to pan if one indeed wanted to go back to square 1. Chugging is available including the untouched crossmember. I’ll pull the little roundie for free and swap you even.
I’d much rather have a ’67 Tiger with the 289!
The power to weight ratio would be off the chart.