Just as the AC Ace was the launching pad for the fire-breathing Cobra, so was another British marque—Sunbeam—responsible for the Alpine sports car that became the Ford V-8 powered Cobra. It was also a Carroll Shelby project, but not as well remembered as the Cobra. What we have here is a very nicely turned out, unmolested 1966 Sunbeam Alpine, painted a lovely bright red. It’s on Craigslist near Seattle with a $10,000 asking price, which seems reasonable. The Alpine is a “nice original car, originally sold in Seattle, good history, rare overdrive transmission, new clutch, windshield, Konis front and rear, Michelin XVS tires. Tonneau cover. Runs and drives great.” Some 75,000 miles are recorded.
And that’s about all we’re going to learn. But perhaps we can judge the car by the company it’s keeping. I see a gorgeous Lotus, a Land Rover, a Saab 96, a Morgan (I think) and what I believe is a Lotus Ford Cortina lurking in the garage. All British except for the Saab, and all in very good to excellent condition.
This is a Series V Alpine, the last version, and probably the best, with 93 horsepower from a 1.725-liter engine featuring a pair of Zenith-Stromberg carburetors. The automatic option had been dropped by that time. Sales weren’t bad—19,122 of these Series Vs were made, so they’re relatively common—especially in the big export market of the U.S. The Series IV had made do with a single Solex and produced just 82 horsepower. Only 12,406 were made.
The later Alpines were the Tiger platform, and they featured the more attractive fin-free rear that debuted with the Series IV. The Alpine was Rootes’ sports car based on the Hillman Minx, with the U.S. market in the sights (hence the fins). Designer Kenneth Howes (who did most of the styling) was a veteran of both Studebaker and Ford. The Alpine lasted until 1968, when it was killed by the Chrysler takeover of the Rootes Group. The Tiger, especially with a Ford engine, was doomed. Some 70,000 Alpines were produced, with the first one (with a 1.5-liter four) debuting in 1959. Early cars (£1,031) were assembled by Armstrong Siddley, just as the early Volvo 1800 was put together by Pressed Steel. When tested by The Motor, an early Alpine (made it to 60 mph in 13.6 seconds and attained 26.1 mpg.
Hagerty puts a Series V Alpine in #3 good condition at $12,000, and this one is at least a 3, though we could have used photos of the interior, engine, and underside. I’m guessing they’re OK. The V-8 Tiger was also built in Mark IA form in ’66, and it’s worth a whole lot more: $43,500. That’s the power of the Carroll Shelby name.
I once came across a 1966 Tiger in exactly this condition, priced at $4,000 AND I DIDN’T BUY IT. Of course, that was many, many years ago, before the big value jump.
Here’s little Howie and his neighborhood buddies on their 10 speeds going to Hobby Horse, when in the parking lot was spotted, “dude, look a Tiger,,,no, no wait, JUST an Alpine, forget it”,, Sales numbers are hard to come by , but some said most of the Alpines made came to America, we rarely saw them. Back then to a kid, any ferrin’ 2 seat roadster was like any other. They’ve had to have a Ford V8 to stand out. It wasn’t until later, I discovered Britain made the best.
Don’t be to hard on yourself, Jim, we’ve all had that one that got away, like that 1970 XKE I passed on for $2895 in 1973. :(
I enjoyed your write up Jim. I definitely feel your pain with the one that got away. This one looks really nice. As great as a V8 would be, I’d be happy with one of these 4 cylinder Alpines.
Would a small block ford fit in an alpine to make a poor man’s tiger?
Common conversion, those cars are sometimes called an Alger.
The Alpine has a steering box which gets in the way of a V8. If that system is removed and replaced with a Tiger steering rack, then the V8 can be shoehorned in. Other considerations would be transmission, differential, and springs, which are all bigger on the Tiger. Overall, it would be a big job, and the car would never officially be a Tiger. Some have successfully put various V6 engines in the Alpine, which makes for a nice package. If I had an Alpine, I would leave it alone because the front to rear weight ratio is near perfect, and the car handles accordingly, while the Tigers feel very front heavy.
Tbone: Many have been fitted with a Ford 2.8 V6 and a 5 speed. Mine had an 8” Ford differential. It was every bit as exciting as an Alpine fitted with a V8 or even a Tiger.
Tbone: a heck of a lot of conversion is required to do things properly. If you are not an automotive engineer, I would forget about it…or save up for a Tiger.
Some people think you “just” can “drop” a 260 or 289 into an Alpine in one afternoon… A HUGE “NO!”. No easier way to create a coffin on wheels.
The perfect upgrade is the Ford 2.8 Cologne V6.
I bought a year old Alpine(67’) when I got out of the Army in 68’. Loved that car. I’m 6’-3” and It fit me with plenty of room. Not so my buddy’s TR-4. It was a tight, uncomfortable fit.
Being that Chrysler bought out Rootes, a 340 six pack 4 speed would be a upgrade that is kept in Chrysler.
Except that the 340 takes up more space and would require crazy surgery. Chrysler saw the sales potential as piddling so didn’t bother. Why they bought Rootes at all is kind of a mystery.
Chrysler did nothing for the Roots Group except kill it.
They never had anything to do with the Sunbeam Alpine or Tiger and got rid of them as soon as they could.
Too many examples were left to rust.
I went thru 4 British sports cars in my college days: MGA, Bugeye Sprite, TR4, and a Sunbeam Alpine. The Alpine was my favorite.
This seems to me to be a pretty good deal, but being on CL for 23 days now, is it really, or is the seller a hard person to deal with?
Considering the Chrysler/Rootes connection of this era, I always thought one of these would do well with a nicely modded Chrysler 2.2 Turbo, as in the Shelby GLH-S.
I had a 65 from 66 to 68. The V series was better because it had a 5 main engine. The 2 problems I had were: a starter that would get stuck, and the harmonic blancer. The 5 main cured the harmonic blancer problem.
It was, all in all, a good car that I drove hard, and also drove from the San Francisco Bay Area to Atlanta and back.
Okay guy’s tell me it’s because i’m to old here but am i the only one that want’s to say ” Hello Chief it’s me Max and i’m with 99 “
Perhaps the Ford 3.7 liter Mayhem V-6 would work well here it does produce 315 HP.
The Ford 2.8 V6 Cologne is a perfect upgrade.
The Ford 2.8 V6 Cologne is a perfect upgrade.
What is the stock HP for the Ford 2.8?
The Ford 2.8 V6 Cologne is a perfect upgrade.
The Ford 2.8 V6 Cologne is a perfect upgrade.
I would rather have the 3.7. How much power does the 2.8 make?
Enough to make the car fun. I have one in my MGB. A fellow brittish car club member had an Alpine with the 2.8 for many years. It served him well. Mine is pushing about 155 to 160 hp. But mine has tons of head work, cam and headers.