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Unbelievable Survivor: 1967 Sunbeam Tiger

This 1967 Sunbeam Tiger is listed for $154,995. That’s not a misprint, but this is also one of the most original ones I can recall seeing in the last few years. In general, most of the Tigers we encounter are either butchered or living in a bubble; rarely do we find cars with low miles and original paint like this one. And, all too commonly, the ones that do resemble this example most closely are the far less powerful Sunbeam Alpines. Find this Tiger here on eBay at the aforementioned price tag with the option to submit a best offer. 

No rust, no damage, original paint and tons of documentation: that’s what the seller says you’ll find if you venture over to Mustangs Unlimited in Manchester, Connecticut. If this is a New England car, I’m even more shocked that it remains in this kind of condition. Another plus is to see a Tiger still riding on its deliciously sleeper-ish hubcaps and whitewalls, as most of the preserved cars have, at a minimum, had their humble rolling stock upgraded to more aggressive wheels and rubber. Bumpers and lenses also appear excellent, and who doesn’t love the dual outlet exhaust poking out from underneath the bumper?

To make this particular car even more desirable, factor in its a Series II, built in extremely limited numbers with Ford’s 289 V8 up front. These Tigers checked so many boxes with enthusiasts when introduced, from the small car/big engine combination to the connection to performance legend Carroll Shelby. And to get the brawn of an American V8 in a handsome European shell with an interior only the British could build – well, it’s not surprising they remain desirable today. The interior looks fantastic, with the wood dash veneer appearing to be uncracked along with the steering wheel.

The seller claims the car is known and authenticated by the Sunbeam Tiger Owners Association, and I’m sure it will be welcomed at any meeting of Sunbeam owners or simply vintage events in general. Of course, I’d be fearful of driving such a preserved and unrepeatable car on the streets, and I’m fairly confident a car like this will be on a trailer to and from events. A shame, but that’s the cost of protecting a virgin specimen like this (well, actually, the cost is north of $150K, but details, details..) While the price is lofty, can’t we all agree this is one of the purest specimens that’s been for sale as of late?

Comments

  1. Avatar RayT

    Jeff, from the first time I saw a Tiger with those rocker panel stripes, I was really, really appalled. And I’ve never gotten over my dislike for them; I don’t think they do a thing for the Tiger’s looks.

    And whitewalls? On a sports car? Also no good, if you ask me.

    So I’m not going to buy it!

    Like 5
    • Avatar Jeff Lavery Staff

      Ray, I guess I love it because that’s exactly what you WOULDN’T expect on a sports car. But I’m a sucker for sleepers and always preferred fast and stealthy over fast and loud (no surprise I loathe that TV show.)

      Like 7
    • Avatar Jamie Palmer Staff

      Ray, you don’t see either one from the driver’s seat! ;-) It’s ok, I’m not a fan of the stripes and whitewalls either…but I’d take the car anyway!!!

      Like 7
      • Avatar RayT

        Hush, Jamie! Don’t take away my reason for passing on it!

        Well, that and the discrepancy between the asking price and what I can afford….

        But mainly, the stripes and whitewalls!

        Like 2
    • Avatar Cotobob

      Guess you didn’t live in the 1960’s. Everything had whitewall ties and body stripes were very common. You have to appreciate history, not bash it.

      Like 2
  2. Avatar Angrymike

    Y-all on a roll, another car that was untouchable in my youth, and still is today. I’d like to take this opportunity on a country road and have a blast !

    Like 3
  3. Avatar Jim S.

    The listed price seems low to me considering the originality and the very low production numbers for the ” Mark 2″ of 533 examples built. 2 of these rare beasts sold for 200K+ in Monterey a few years ago.This car is an investment that will pay dividends in the way of spirited driving and appreciation for years to come. Of course my opinion is a bit biased having owned one of these ( The Mark 1 Version) for the past 44 years.

    Like 15
    • Avatar Alan (Michigan)

      Those wheels look great on the car. Congratulations on a good purchase, and the wisdom to keep it for so many years.

      Like 8
  4. Avatar Bob C.

    On Get Smart, Don Adams car was actually an Alpine with Tiger badges. The v8 didn’t leave any room to store the cannon under the hood.

    Like 9
    • Avatar 86 Vette Convertible

      My thoughts exactly – where’s Don Adams when you need him?

      Like 3
      • Avatar Dave

        You missed him by just that much! lol

        Like 5
    • Avatar Brian N.

      They didn’t use just one car for the show 😁

      Like 0
  5. Avatar glen

    I’m more impressed with the beautiful green trees, all we have here is snow.

    Like 4
    • Avatar GearHead Engineering

      glen,

      Great catch – those pics are NOT from Manchester CT in 2018. I live 25 miles from Manchester and we do not have full leaves on the trees yet. Some buds and blossoms and that is it. I was so enamored by the car that I didn’t notice the background.

      I love the car. Stripes and white walls included. It looks like what I remember from the ads and magazine articles. Amazing condition. Driving this car on bias ply tires requires a strong sense of invincibility. As much as I love this, I would never own it. Not that I can afford it anyway, but I would be afraid to drive it and ruin the preserved condition.

      – John

      Like 8
      • Avatar glen

        It’s definitely not the first ad I’ve seen that left me wondering, how old are these pictures?.

        Like 1
      • Avatar Frank Grasha

        That car is not the same one as the article is about , Its from another owner ! Frank

        Like 0
  6. Avatar Bill Shields

    Sorry but for $154,995 I would want the Get Smart Tiger WITH the cannon!

    Like 6
  7. Avatar LAWRENCE

    Dear Santa………

    Like 2
  8. Avatar SC/RAMBLER

    Finally a Tiger 2 lusted over these when I was a kid. I can’t imagine driving one of these with the 289 and skinny tires.

    Like 3
  9. Avatar Ha ha ha r

    154 😜🙃

    No way not ever.

    Many other desirable cars

    63 split window

    Freaking 68 Shelby KR 428

    Ferrari

    From the words of Stephen Tyler
    Dream on baby

    Like 3
  10. Avatar Francisco

    Check the performance comparisons. A Miata could dust its doors.

    Like 3
    • Avatar jw454

      I’ll sacrifice the performance when I can look this much better doing it.

      Like 4
    • Avatar Frank Grasha

      I was a service manager for a Roots Dealer in 66/67 and also for a Mazda dealer in 1990 No Miata can compare with a stock Tiger that would do 60 MPH in first gear . Those veh were way too fast for for there tires ! P.S. I also have a original sales brochure for the Tiger if anyone is interested Frank

      Like 0
  11. Avatar Rube Goldberg Member

    Lot of famous people had these, aside from it’s role on “Get Smart”,( I never knew it was an Alpine, thanks, Bob) Andy Rooney, Chris Amon, Cary Grant, even Ricardo Montalban ( don’t say it). It was one of the cars we lusted over in our youth, but in reality, they were unpredictable, AND HOT! You got $150+ g’s to piss away, by all means, buy this.

    Like 4
  12. Avatar Harry

    Not that I could afford it, but if I could I’d have to lose the white walls and the stripes and go with the Minilites.

    Like 3
  13. Avatar jdjonesdr

    Needs to be seen by some guy with more money than sense who can buy it and throw it in their garage with all of their other classics. Too nice to use by us wrenchers.

    Like 3
  14. Avatar Patrick D.

    The solution is easy: buy a set of American Racing’s finest, sticky new tires, put the whitewall and hubcaps on a shelf, and only put them back on when when you go to a “Tea and Crumpets” event.

    Easiest mod ever, and fully reversible.

    Leave the stripes on, to piss off everybody.

    Like 7
    • Avatar philthy phil

      thats what I do with mk II #217…..stripes are in a box along with remote oil filter and some other bits,with CAT club headers use a shorty spin on filter….

      Like 2
  15. Avatar RNR

    Ford V8 and a Pentastar on the lower right front fender. Too bad the LA series 273 didn’t fit – for ’68 maybe Ma MoPar would have yanked the Blue Oval mill and dropped in a 340!

    Like 0
  16. Avatar Richard

    Nice car but drive one and you will buy something else – investment only territory – if everything else increases in value

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Jeffrey c. bickel

    I miss my 1966 Tiger that I sold in 1976…
    I was too young and it got me 3 speeding tickets in 2 months……Honestly Officers it not my fault. I was only in 3rd gear going 85. Good thing I did not shift into 4th…..like I said ……too young

    Like 1
  18. Avatar Jonathan q

    My father owned one of these back in the day. If he were still around it would kill him to know what kind of money it could bring. Sadly, he sold it when I was a wee lad but I do remember it having considerable rust.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar Mountainwoodie

    To think that I drove one as a 16 year old garage gofer in 1970! I think it was a Series One but nonetheless……….garage owner also had a ’64 fastback Galaxie 500 XL. He had it going on! Down the road at another garage was a ’35 or maybe ’36 Brewster Ford Limo……and across from it sat a ’47 Packard…..those were the days my son,,,,,,,,,,lol

    Like 1
  20. Avatar RicK

    Never understood why Agent 86 traded in the Tiger for a Karman Ghia (and later an Opel GT).

    Like 1
    • Avatar Miguel

      Advertising

      Like 1
  21. Avatar Miguel

    Here is my question.

    if the car, as the write up says, “the car is known and authenticated by the Sunbeam Tiger Owners Association”, and if the price is a good price for this car, why isn’t somebody from that association buying the car?

    Like 1
    • Avatar philthyphil

      because they already own one or two

      Like 0
  22. Avatar richard

    A Tiger was used in the opening intro as well as through the first one and a half seasons. The Alpine, loaded with gadgets, was introduced halfway through the second season. They continued using the Alpine during the episodes even after the Tiger had been replaced in the intro by a Karmann Ghia and then and Opel GT.

    Like 0
  23. Avatar Cap10

    Answered an ad to remove an old outbuilding in exchange for the wood.

    Afterward, I walked into the guy’s garage to tell him the job was finished, but stopped short and just drooled all over myself. He turned, saw what I was looking at and asked, “Do you know what it is?” I replied, “Sure do… that’s a late sixties Sunbeam Tiger!”

    He got it in exchange for helping a lady organize her late husband’s barn contents in preparation for an estate sale!

    Took me for a ride around the “block”. By the time we returned, my cheeks hurt from grinning so much! Don’t think I’d turn it down if it were offered to me… whitewalls, stripes, and all!

    Like 2
  24. Avatar Tony Morrison

    British Show

    Like 1

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