Check THIS Out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idxxLjtISF4

Have you ever heard of a Sunbeam Alpine?! It’s a pretty sweet car but does this 1967 model from Great Britain have what it takes on the race track? Find out on PINKS All Out every Thursday, 9 PM eastern, only on SPEED!

 

I always considered the Alpine anemic. It had cleam lines, but used a small, stock sedan-derived4 cylinder engine of around 1825 cc or something, and didn't have the power toplay with MGs or Triumphs much less Healeys. But the Sumbeam Tiger same car with a Ford smallbock V8, was something else, although not nearly as fast as the Cobra, even though it had a Ford V8 (lower performance version)

What I liked best about these two Sunbeams is they were the only cars I've ever seen with gas gauges calibrated in gallons, I think it was from 0 to 12 in incrementals of 2, rather than the usual E to F. That and the fact that on the Tiger you had to change the rear plugs on the passenger's side from inside the car, removing an access panel in the back of the glovebox and reaching through into the engine compartment from there.

 

cool...it was the car in original Get Smart TV show I believe.

 

Yes is was. Sort of fit Smart's image perfectly, too.

 

The Alpine is a pretty good sports car which is somewhat hurt by the reputation as the "British Thunderbird". It looks somewhat like the 50's Thunderbird and in fact the designer, Ken Howes, worked for Ford during the period of the Thunderbird development.

Few people - even Sunbeam enthusiast - realize the Alpine won the 1960 G-P SCCA Championship, as well as the 1964 F-Production championship, and tied Lake Underwood for national championship points in 1963 in E-production (the Alpine was leading E-production until the very last race at Thompson). It was one of the top cars in its class regarding championship points for 61' and 62'. Unfortunately, there was very little support from Rootes for racers and by the time Chrysler started to take over in 65'/66' there was little life in the company.

So, the car did have it's moments and certainly some strengths in performance such as handling and braking.

Steve