To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Amelia
Island event, 6 - 7 March 2020.
Estimate:
$130,000 - $160,000
- One of 633 Mark II Tigers built
- Finished in its original color of Carnival Red with accent
stripes
- Bare-metal, 1,800-hour restoration
- Only two owners since new
- Includes both hardtop and new convertible top
The Sunbeam Alpine was introduced in 1959. Despite its humble
underpinnings of the Hillman Husky and a 78 hp, 1.5-liter,
four-cylinder engine of the Sunbeam Rapier, the Alpine was blessed
with a fashionable finned body penned by Rootes' own designers. A
more powerful V-8 version, dubbed the Tiger, was introduced in
1964.
Initial cars were fitted with a 164 hp, 260 cu. in. Ford V-8 and
Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed transmission. The brainchild of Rootes'
US West Coast sales manager, Ian Garrad, the $3,500 car was
somewhat of a budget Cobra; in fact, Carroll Shelby did much of the
engineering, including building the prototype. Later Mark II
versions, built under Chrysler, were treated to Ford's 210 hp 289
V-8 along with a number of distinct updates. When Sunbeam's parent
company, the Rootes Group, was sold to Chrysler Corporation, the
Ford-powered Tiger was ultimately discontinued from the lineup.
Fewer than 7,100 were built, including just 633 Mark IIs.
The first owner took delivery of this Tiger in Europe, driving it
about the Continent before shipping it home to the United States in
Ohio. Family life eventually got in the way, and the Sunbeam was
put away until the consignor acquired the car from the daughter of
the original owner six years ago; the odometer read just 33,000
miles. The consignor, a restoration shop owner who previously
restored other Tigers, commenced with an 1,800-hour restoration
with authenticity foremost.
The Tiger was stripped to bare metal and refinished in its original
Carnival Red with accent side stripes replicated as built. Both
hardtop and a new soft top are included. Since restoration, it has
been driven around 3,000 miles. The consignor describes it as fully
sorted and an excellent performer. It has not since been shown,
providing the new owner with an outstanding opportunity to showcase
this mighty Mark II Tiger.To view this car and others currently
consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/am20.