Part of the pleasure in contributing to CC is catching cars like this. I was looking in my hard drive for Hillman Minx photographs and reminded myself of another Rootes Group car with an interesting back story – the first Sunbeam Alpine.
The Alpine (always a Sunbeam, not a Sunbeam-Talbot) was based on the Sunbeam-Talbot 90 from 1948, which Rootes used to considerable effect in international rallying, including the then-prestigious Alpine Rally and the Monte Carlo Rally. The Sunbeam-Talbot 80 and 90 were available as saloons and as convertibles, but this two-seater derivative was developed by Rootes dealer Hartwell and hand built by the firm’s in-house coachbuilder Thrupp and Maberley. These origins account for the fact that, despite being almost exactly the same as the saloon ahead of the windscreen, it is not quickly recognised as an Alpine, nor as a Sunbeam-Talbot convertible.
Mechanically, it was close to the Sunbeam-Talbot 90, with the same 2.3 litre overhead valve 4 cylinder engine-albeit with an increased compression ratio-giving 80bhp and 94mph. The styling was redolent of the Jaguar XK120, but without that car’s much lower roadster feel. Given that it was based on a saloon and was very much an aftermarket derivative, structural rigidity was not all that could be desired. From 1954, overdrive was added, which seems to be the major difference between a Mk1 and a Mk3 (there was no Mk2 Alpine, and the mark designations do not match the saloons).
In 1953, 4 Sunbeam Alpines won Coupes des Alpes in the Alpine Rally, including one for Stirling Moss. The Alpine name was subsequently adopted by Rootes’s competition chief Norman Garrad to reflect these successes.
The Alpine was produced in small numbers from 1953 to 1955 which, coincidentally, was the year the lithe MGA first appeared.
The car behind the Alpine is a 1960s Humber Hawk, also a Rootes product and powered by the same engine as the Alpine. Alongside that car, the large size of the Sunbeam is even more apparent, as it would have been next to such contemporary saloons as the Rover 3 litre and Ford Zodiac
Love it!! First saw one at the NYC car show in 1954 or 55….just a few years ago.
I’m liking the Buickesque portholes on the green one!
Nice but how do you get in with the hood up?
You slide the window “glass” and put your hand in to reach the inner door handle.
No wonder I’ve never seen one in the war zone I live in.Presumably people were more honest 60 years ago
I was familiar with the Alpine from the 60s, but not this one. This car’s styling just oozes Britishness. And that’s a good thing.
Mr. Carr, thank you for another great post!
These were slow and heavy. Rootes competition dept replaced this with the Audax body Rapier the moment they came off the line.
This is probably most well-known for being the car Grace Kelly drove in “To Catch a Thief.”
That’s what I was thinking too.
In one of the marque-club newsletters — TigersEast, I think — there has been a pretty blue one for sale for a couple of months now.
Hmm, A Nissan SR20DET swap would be interesting.
Buick/Holden V6 drops in nicely.
” The styling was redolent of the Jaguar XK120….”
I’m not so sure about that.
Which model Hillman Minx were you looking for? I have access to a 1940 sedan and I drive a 3A.
Hi KiwiBryce,
thanks for the suggestion – I’d love some good shots of both to go into an upcoming feature on the Arrow Minx I’m planning.
Can you put them on the Cohort?
Many thanks!
Roger
Hi KiwiBryce,
thanks for the suggestion – I’d love some good shots of both to go into an upcoming feature on the Arrow Minx I’m planning.
Can you put them on the Cohort?
Many thanks!
Roger