In mid-1964, Chrysler started acquiring bits of the Rootes Group, the British manufacturer of the Sunbeam Alpine. By 1967 they owned 2/3 of the company and in the summer of 1970, the company was renamed Chrysler UK. This 1970 Sunbeam Alpine GT, said to have been parked in a barn for 40 years, is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Buffalo, Minnesota and they’re asking $6,000. Here is the original listing.
If I were still in rabid car-buying mode, this one would already be on a trailer headed to a storage unit along with what are mostly motorcycles now. I’m not a fan of cars with rust as I’ve spent too many decades growing up with snow, salt, slush, and rusty vehicles, but man does this look like a nice project! There’s a bit of rust visible on the exterior but it appears well-preserved after so many decades on the planet. The seller has even included underside photos. As expected, it has some heavy surface rust under there and some work to do on the bottoms of the quarter panels, driver’s door, and most likely other spots.
Chrysler wanted to join the big guns (Ford and GM) in owning European vehicle manufacturers, so Rootes Group joined with their recently purchased Barreiros, a Spanish maker of industrial engines, trucks, and some cars, and France-based Simca. Chrysler Europe was born. Early attempts at selling Rootes-designed products in the U.S. were met with somewhat iffy receptions by customers with the Plymouth Cricket around the same time sister division Dodge was rebadging much more reliable Mitsubishis as Dodge Colts. Here’s what the trunk looks like. The seller gets ten gold stars for great photos and a nice variety of images, very, very, very rare for a Facebook Marketplace listing. Nice job, seller!
The interior is shockingly nice, visually. We don’t know if everything works as this car hasn’t been in operating condition for decades, but it looks fantastic inside. I thought the GT had a walnut veneer dash but this one doesn’t appear to have that. Those are GT badges on the C-pillars, aren’t they? The seats look like new both front and rear and there aren’t any dash cracks or any other glaring issues inside that I can see. Maybe just some light surface rust on some metal surfaces.
The engine condition is unknown, unfortunately, but this space is where the new SBC will be located. No, I hope not. This is a Hillman-sourced 1,725-cc OHV inline-four with twin carbs (a GT feature) and 94 horsepower (according to a brochure) when new. It sends power through a four-speed manual to the rear wheels and, unfortunately, the seller doesn’t say whether it turns over or not. After four decades in a barn who knows what’s needed, but they say it has new tires and I would love to have this one. Have any of you owned a Sunbeam Alpine GT?
I love the look of this one. It looks like a mini barracuda, and I have always loved barracudas. The price seems decent, but the underside rust is intimidating. If I were closer, I would go have a look at it. Great find!
I love the look of this car, like Hall-z the Barracuda is a favorite of mine, especially the pre-67 models. But nice, running, driving Alpine GTs sell for peanuts. I think this price is too high, but the seller may find that out in time. It’s been for sale for a while now…
Where are these peanut priced runners your talking about Michelle ????
Who else, folks? Actually, there were a couple in Beer City. Sunbeams weren’t exactly common, and we weren’t sure who made it, honestly. We figured Asian, and yes, it did resemble a Barracuda with a Jensen front. The motor looks typically British, and appears to be on a slant a bit. Was that normal? Americans were always wary of cars like this from Britain. While roadsters were selling, sedan types were a flop( remember the Marina?) I’d certainly fix it up AS IS, and have some fun, plus a darn reliable ride,,or there’s always this,,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbh2MJ74bJ8
Wow Howard that aint no 4 cylinder in that thing!!! Is it me? Or does that drag car look even more like a Baracuda than a stock one? I agree with Michelle, I always liked the early Baracudas too, especially the interiors.
I’m with Howard just keep it as is and drive it like is and maintain it. Heck I even love the color. Thanks Scotty for the little history lesson with Chrysler too….. There I go, learning something new again!!! Now for the tricky part….. Remembering it. I always tell people that I have a mind like a steel trap, except, problem is, it snapped shut BEFORE the information could get in.
Will say, had a Marina for several years, was a pretty reliable little commuter, between Boston’s North Shore and South Shore right thru the Big Dig.
It looks like a Sunbeam, a Barracuda, an Opel, and a Datsun B210 all rolled together.
Love these Alpines. This looks like it’s in descent shape. If I didn’t already have a 64 Alpine and a 65 Tiger I’m restoring I would be all over this. I would say $4k may just get it in your driveway.
The car definitely looks d-e-c-e-n-t now, and keeping up the maintenance will prevent further d-e-s-c-e-n-t.
Before I looked at any of the comments, my first reminder was that this car was built in the era of the Barracuda. It still amazes me how one of these cars survives all these years. You really have to be diligent in storing a car for this many years and still keep it in decent shape! It’s a good looking interior, however if I was to get a Sunbeam it would be an Alpine or a Tiger! Right now the only good Sunbeam I could afford would be the Mixmaster! : > }
Nice, but since nobody wants to work and the others take your car but don’t touch it, where are you?
Looks to me like a 1st gen Barracuda and a Datsun 210 got a little frisky on a Saturday night…
I currently have 2 Sunbeam Alpine GT’s. My Dad was dealer and I’ve had multiple over the years. Unfortunately they just don’t bring the money like their sister cars. A friend tried to sell his running and driving rust free GT in California for $5,500. It did need paint, but even as a good runner he could only get $4,000 after a year of trying to sell it. And don’t get me started on trying to find parts especially the body or Glass.
Most people don’t know that the designer of the 1st gen Barracudas also designed the Alpine GT or Rapier Fastback in the U.K. That’s why the “similar” look. I would be interested in it but the price would need to be adjusted.
In the UK there were 2 models of the fastback Sunbeam, Alpine and Rapier. The Alpine was entry level, which may be why you feel it should have veneer dash ( Rapier did).
Bit of a strange car in its day, very American pony car style for the UK, didn’t quite land but not horrible. There was a fast Holbay- tubed version of the Rapier called the H120, which raced well..
And kudos for mentioning Barreiros in Spain, Scotty, one of the companies which popularised motoring in Franco’s Spain building Simcas and Dodge Darts under license, as well as its own trucks and buses.
I guess, from reading all the above comments, that I’m in a definite minority in thinking that these cars are really ugly, especially since their predecessors, the Alpine and Tiger roadsters, are so beautiful.
no one can account for “taste”, fashion, looks, design. Back in the day I’d seen a few of these (may B even Mark R’s) and opted to stay w/Goldies ‘continentals’. Thank for the common designer of the models, Kiwie. Can U cite his name?
I have the 2nd gen cuda down as Herlitz and Sampson. Who designed this Alpine GT?
Its fun to see these connections esp when across the seas (the ‘fastback’ traveled the world, the ‘50s merican station wagon in plym suburban to wolwo Duette, japanese’s early ‘sports cars’ so Brit based, more). To trace the years of each alternate company’s model (showing ‘who was 1st’, which was the copied v second, the timing of it all) is fun for me too. “How one develops their out-of-garage car guy habits”… LOL… Well, 1 is this site, no?
Pretty nice from the topside (love the colour), with what looks like a bit of rust in spots on the body. The underside, however, reminds me of what is usually found under many Fords of a particular model that should need no mention. Love that engine bay, but the engine could use a deep cleaning – the bonus would be an engine that will freely rotate. $6,000.00 might be a bit optimistic.
I would like to see a photo of the barn that did such an outstanding job of protecting this car for 40 years.
I restored a 69 GT about 5 years ago. I made the error of making a low ball offer, with appropriate apology. Owner took it, so I came back with a trailer.
Had to replace much of the floorboard and rockers. Then body work and paint. Mechanically, these are sound cars. The 1725cc engine has an aluminum head and finned oil pan, twin strombergs.
Most parts came from Speedy Spares in Brighton, UK. They have since closed. Too bad; great Rootes guys.
Front and rear glass gaskets were rotten. Had to make gaskets. Installed both by myself. Don’t know how I did that!
Hagerty has very unrealistic evaluation. To be fair, there were only 2000 or so made in 69 & 70. Rarity does not mean valuable!
Took a long time to sell it. It went back home to UK.