The Early Sunbeam Alpine Sports Car

1955 Sunbeam Alpine Mark 3

from Classic to Modern

The new Sunbeam-Talbot sports car was launched in 1948 by the Rootes Group in two versions:

The "80" was powered by a 1.2 litre engine developing 47 bhp
The "90" used a 2 litre engine which produced 64 bhp

Both were offered as either a drop head coupe or a four door saloon, and their engines were based on pre-WW2 4-cylinder, side valve units, but which were now fitted with uprated cylinder heads using an overhead valve arrangement.

Designated the Mark 1, they had a four speed gearbox, used a column gear change, and remained in production until 1950.

Following some styling changes both inside and out, the improved Mark 2A drop head coupe was launched in 1952, and was used as the basis of a stylish convertible, the Sunbeam Alpine sports, which was introduced in 1953.

The new sports car featured:

A modified box section frame
The solid front axle was replaced with independent coil spring suspension
A close ratio gearbox was added together with an overdrive unit
Surprisingly, the column gear change was retained
Oversized Lockheed drum brakes were used all round, combined with competition brake linings
The wheels were drilled to assist in cooling the brakes

The Sunbeam Alpine was produced between 1953 and 1955.

Although based on the Sunbeam-Talbot 90, it was simply called either the Sunbeam Alpine or Talbot Alpine, but not the Sunbeam-Talbot Alpine.

It was a two seater convertible originally modified by George Hartwell, a Sunbeam-Talbot dealer, as a limited edition rally car.

It used the same 2267 cc, 4-cylinder, overhead valve engine as the Sunbeam-Talbot 90, combined with a single Stromberg carburettor.

However, the compression ratio was increased from 6.45 to 7.5:1, which produced 80 bhp, and a top speed of 96 mph.

One of the features of the Alpine was its emphasis on the comfort of its occupants, which included deep cushioned seats, a very efficient heater, and plenty of luggage space.

For use in competitions, the front windscreen could easily be removed and replaced with low, plastic, racing screens

A review of the specification of both the Mark 1 and Mark 3 Alpines indicated that the only difference between the two models was:

Mark 1 Mark 2
Compression Ratio 7.42:1 7.5:1
Max BHP 80 @ 4200 rpm 80 @ 4400 rpm
Max Torque 124 ft/lbs @ 1800 rpm 1224 ft/lbs @ 2400 rpm
Stromberg Carburettor Type DAA 36 Type DI 36

Alpine Alpine Talbot Talbot
Technical Data    Mark 1 Mark 3        Mark 2(90) Mark 3 (90)
Production: 1953-1954 1954-1955 1950-1952 1954-1957
Engine cc 2267 2267 2267 2267
Cylinders, bhp 4, 80 4, 80                4,70 4,80
Top Speed mph 95 91                  85 94
0-60 mph, secs 18 18.4 20.2 17.4
fuel consumption 24 24 23 22
(overall) Standing 1/4 mile 21.1 21.4 22.2 22.2

1954 Sunbeam Alpine Mk1

1954 Sunbeam Alpine Stirling Moss won the 1954 Monte Carlo Rally in this car

1954 Sunbeam Alpine

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Compared with other British sports cars, it was more powerful than the MG TD, but was no match for the Jaguar XK120, even though the two cars weighed the same.

This aside, the Alpine fared well in international rallies.

A special edition Alpine, fitted with a highly tuned engine developing 106 bhp, reached 120 mph in the hands of the famous rally driver Sheila van Damm.

The name Alpine was attributed to the previous Sunbeam-Talbot's rally success in the six day Coupe des Alpes, driven by such notaries as Stirling Moss and Sheila van Damm.

In the 1953 Alpine Rally, the prize of the Coupe des Alpes went to a team of four Sunbeam Alpines, one of which, driven by Stirling Moss, finished in sixth position.

Another entrant, Sheila van Damm, won the Coupe des Dames.

In the Alpine rally a year later, Stirling Moss again won a Coupe des Alpes driving a Sunbeam Alpine.

In fact, he was one of only two rally drivers to win a Gold Alpine Cup in the Alpine Rally.

The Sunbeam Alpine was discontinued in 1955, but the name was revived in 1959 with the advent of the newer, smaller, Sunbeam Alpine Series 1.

The original Alpine sports car was hand built by the coachbuilders Thrupp and Maberly in both the Mark 1 and 3 versions (for an unknown reason, a Mark 2 was never produced).

Out of a total production of 1,582 of the Mark 1-3 Alpine, 961 were exported to the US and Canada as left hand drive models, 445 stayed in the UK, and the remaining 175 were exported elsewhere.

SPORTS CARS FOR SALE

A 1953 Sunbeam Alpine Mark 1 in superb condition was placed at auction with a guide price of between £12,000/$19,000 and £17,000/$27,000. On the other hand, an example of the same model that required a complete restoration was offered at £2,000/$3,000.