Lot details
Registration No: COR284C
Chassis No: 9473267/HRSFE
Mot Expiry: June 2011

The Sunbeam Tiger was conceived in the West Coast of the USA and inspired by the success of the AC Cobra - the result of mating an American small block V8 engine with the British AC Ace. Rootes American Motors Inc. saw the potential for inserting the same powerplant - Ford's 4.2-litre (260 cu in) 'Windsor' unit - into the nose of the stylish but rather pedestrian Sunbeam Alpine. Carroll Shelby was duly commissioned to build the prototype and the rest is history. The basic layout of the Alpine was retained and the car featured independent suspension at the front using coil springs, and a 'live' axle at the rear supported by semi-elliptic leaf springs. The 164bhp engine endowed the newcomer with a top speed of around 120mph and a 0-60 mph acceleration time of under eight seconds. A total of some 7,085 Tigers were eventually produced, including 536 of the now very rare 4.7-litre MK 2s.

The right-hand drive MKI Tiger offered was manufactured in 1965 and is finished in Dark Blue with a Black leather interior. The vendor informs us that it was restored for David Barraclough in 1986-89 and prepared for regularity and long distance rallying by a marque specialist. The specification reportedly includes: bucket seats, full harness seat belts, roll cage, sump guard, 3.2:1 limited slip differential, long range fuel tank and twin Facet fuel pumps. The body was apparently treated to a bare metal respray in 2008 and we further understand that in recent times the clutch, water pump, alternator, brakes, suspension, dampers and steering have all either been renewed or overhauled. This nicely presented Tiger comes complete with: original hardtop, hood, tonneau, spare boot lid containing spare wheel mounting, six Minilite wheels shod with new Yokohama tyres, and both FIVA and MSA Historic Rally Passports as well as FBHVC recognition certificate.