1953 Sunbeam Alpine Works Rally Car

Lot details
Registration No: MKV 23
Chassis No: 3012464
Mot Expiry: July 2011

An accomplished driver as well as a talented engineer, Norman Garrad formed part of the indomitable Talbot 105 Fox & Nicholl Team which won the Alpine Rally's first ever 'Coupe des Alpes' in 1932. Chosen to head-up the newly formed Rootes Competition Department some sixteen years later, one of his drivers - George Murray-Frame - secured a 'Coupe des Alpes' on the 1948 Alpine Rally aboard a Sunbeam-Talbot 2 Litre. Having claimed a team prize at the end of the following year's Alpine Rally alongside fellow pilots Douglas Clease and Peter Monkhouse (again using 2 Litre cars), Norman Garrad switched his attention to the Sunbeam-Talbot 90 for the 1950 season. By scooping an index of performance award on that year's Alpine Rally, Norman Garrad, George Hartwell and George Murray-Frame helped cement the sports saloon's credentials as one of the most successful British rally cars of its generation. Boasting a new chassis complete with independent front suspension and enlarged 2267cc engine in MKII guise, the Sunbeam Talbot 90 attracted the services of such up and coming superstars as Stirling Moss (1952 Monte Carlo Rally, 2nd overall) and Mike Hawthorn (1952 Alpine Rally, Team Prize alongside Stirling Moss and George Murray-Frame).

With its greater horsepower and improved brakes, the evolutionary MKIIa variant enabled Ronnie Adams / John Pearman to finish second overall on the 1953 RAC Rally (behind the Jaguar XK120 of Ian Appleyard / Pat Appleyard but ahead of the Allard J2X of Godfrey Imhof / Mrs Betty Frayling). The model also allowed Sunbeam-Talbot to claim the Team Prize on the 1953 and 1954 Monte Carlo Rallies (1953: Stirling Moss, Jack Imhof, Leslie Johnson / 1954: Stirling Moss, Leslie Johnson, Sheila Van Damm). A friend of the Rootes family and holder of their Bournemouth franchise, George Hartwell became well known for tuning and campaigning Sunbeam-Talbots. Labelled the Hartwell Coupe, his reworking of the standard, Thrupp & Maberly-bodied four-seater 90 MKIIa Drophead Coupe into a stylish, long-tailed two-seater roadster soon drew Norman Garrad's attention. In addition to commissioning the Raymond Loewy Studios to help with the project, the latter was also reputedly responsible for giving the resultant production design its Alpine moniker. Appearing in March 1953, the newcomer utilised a subtly modified version of its 90 MKIIa sibling's cruciform-braced box-section chassis equipped with independent front suspension, a 'live' rear axle and four-wheel drum brakes. Credited with developing some 77bhp @ 4,200rpm in standard tune, its familiar 2267cc engine was allied to a four-speed, column shift, manual gearbox, while options included a racing windscreen, tachometer and overdrive.

Not content with the records that Stirling Moss and Sheila Van Damm set aboard a specially prepared Sunbeam Alpine on Belgium's Jabbeke highway (e.g. the flying mile at 119.402 mph and the flying kilometre at 120.132 mph), Garrad put together a six-car strong Works team for the 1953 Alpine Rally. Although, outwardly similar to their production car counterparts, these specially fettled Works machines reputedly incorporated some thirty-six modifications (several of which centred on boosting engine output to a claimed 97.5bhp @ 4,500rpm). An accomplished tactician, Garrad populated the sextet - road registered as 'MKV 21' through to 'MKV 26' - with a mixture of tortoises and hares: 'MKV 21' Stirling Moss / John Cutts, 'MKV 22' George Murray-Frame / John Pearman, 'MKV 23' Peter Collins / Ronnie Adams, 'MKV 24' John Fitch / Peter Miller, 'MKV 25' Sheila Van Damm / Ann Hall and 'MKV 26' Leslie Johnson / David Humphrey. Aged just twenty-one, Peter Collins was most definitely a hare. Enjoying his second season in Formula 1 with HWM not to mention regular sports car drives for Aston Martin (including victory at the 1952 Goodwood Nine Hours and 1953 Tourist Trophy), Collins flouted Garrad's instructions that Adams be allowed a stint behind the wheel. Understandably aggrieved, Adams sat out the final day of the event. His place was taken by David Humphrey (whose own mount had retired) but this substitution did not satisfy the organisers and 'MKV 23' was disqualified. To add insult to injury, the roadster also lost all forward gears during the last stages and so had to cross the finishing line in reverse! By contrast 'MKV 21', 'MKV 22', 'MKV 24' and 'MKV 25' were all awarded 'Coupes des Alpes' for penalty-free runs.

The same six cars were entered for the 1954 Alpine Rally albeit with some notable crew changes: 'MKV 21' Stirling Moss / John Cutts, 'MKV 22' George Murray-Frame / John Pearman, 'MKV 23' Peter Collins / Lewis Garrad, 'MKV 24' George Hartwell / Bill Deane, 'MKV 25' Sheila Van Damm / Ann Hall and 'MKV 26' Peter Harper / Peter Miller. Doubtless keen to emulate Moss's success, Collins attacked the course with gusto only for the Works machine's differential to break part way up the Stelvio Pass amidst the Dolomites. Unable to source a replacement in time, Collins and Garrad were forced to retire. A fate shared by several of their team mates, though Stirling Moss and Sheila Van Damm scooped a Coupe d'Or and Coupe des Dames respectively. Once repaired, 'MKV 23' participated in a promotional tour alongside its siblings. Circulated around the UK's largest Rootes dealerships until their publicity generating potential had been exhausted, the Roadsters were then sold off. According to its original buff logbook, 'MKV 23' was registered to James Ross & Sons Ltd of Edinburgh on 11th April 1955. Thereafter, it relocated to the Borders region and passed through the hands of Thorburn & Brownlee, Thomas Elliot, Adam Hunter, Wooler Service Station, William Smith and Philip Brewer. Reportedly involved in an accident during 1963, the Sunbeam was taken off the road and dry stored for the next twenty-six years. Damage aside, the two-seater is said to have been corrosion free and basically sound upon entering the current ownership in 1989. Emerging from a thorough restoration the following year, the ex-Works car has since covered some 25,000 miles (its usage being split between pleasure motoring and numerous old car gatherings). Frequent forays into Europe have seen it journey to the South of France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland etc.

As well as completing the retrospective 'Rallye des Alpes' in both 1994 and 2007, 'MKV 23' participated in the 2003 'Coppa Milano-San Remo' (winning a cup on the latter occasion for having travelled the furthest - 1,345 miles - to join the event at Monza). The subject of an overhaul last year (crack tested / reground crankshaft, new crankshaft pulley / timing chain / camshaft, fresh pistons / rings / bearings and replacement gaskets etc), its engine still requires running-in. While other recent fettling has encompassed a floor-change gearbox conversion (all supplanted parts remain with the car), reconditioned overdrive, sundry remedial paintwork and the fitting of new Avon radial tyres. Welcome at a host of prestigious meetings and a tangible link to one of Britain's greatest racing drivers, this historic Works Rally Car is offered for sale with its original buff logbook, FIVA Identity Card (issued February 2007), MOT certificate valid until July 2011, assorted invoices and two volumes of black and white photographs.