Vehicle Description
CURRENTLY FOR SALE VIA BRING A TRAILER ONLINE AUCTIONS. HEAD TO
THEIR WEBSITE TO BID! 1965 Sunbeam Tiger MKI - Colorado Car - BRG,
aka Forest Green with Matching Hardtop - Upgraded 289ci V8 with Cam
and Headers - 4 Speed Manual Transmission - Front Disc Brakes -
Professionally Restored by Leadfoot Muscle Cars - 20k Miles Shown
The Sunbeam Tiger has a story that involves famous car and racing
individuals like Jack Brabbham, Carroll Shelby, and Ken Miles. With
names like that having been involved with the concept of the Tiger,
and the development of the car, how could the car not succeed? It
seemed an odd idea at the time for a British company like Sunbeam
to produce a powerful roadster, but the result is the Tiger, which
really is a car that will put a smile on your face. The Tiger had a
bit more oomph than many of the other contemporary British
Roadsters. Small four cylinder engines, or straight six engines
seemed the norm, and the Tiger broke that mold with the V8
shoehorned under the hood. Re-shaping a fender well was necessary
to fit the engine in the engine bay of what was essentially a
Sunbeam Alpine. The Alpine is a great British roadster, but the
Tiger, well, it had the power and the sound to turn heads! The car
you see here is a 1965 Sunbeam Tiger MKI finished in British Racing
Green over a black interior, and currently showing 20,105 miles on
the mechanical odometer. This car is a true Tiger, not an Alger
which is an Alpine converted to look like a Tiger. The Alpine, and
later the Tiger, offered sporty exterior styling. From the large
grille opening, to the high finned fenders which mimicked large
American cars of the day. Chrome bumpers front and rear, chrome
trim throughout the exterior, and the Tiger stylized script which
interrupts the thin horizontal trim that stretches from the
headlight bezel to the tail lights are notable features. This car
in particular is finished in the original color of Forest Green
(Code 86), which was Rootes' version of British Racing Green.
Whether technically called British Racing Green or not, the car
looks great covered in it. The exterior is finished nicely, with
glossy and even paint, panel fitment dialed in, very nice trim
components, both hard and soft tops which are in great condition,
and all trim and badging having been placed where it should be. The
car also has LA Tiger style 70 wheels that have three finned
knockoffs. A slightly upscale interior, which included wood trim,
set the Alpine and Tiger apart from many of the competing British
roadsters. A series of chrome bezel gauges which include a
tachometer, speedometer, oil pressure, and coolant temp, are
mounted in a replacement wood dashboard. A three spoke steering
wheel and shifter capped with a black shift knob are within easy
reach of the driver. Clarion radio is mounted at the center of the
dashboard and a pair of speakers are mounted just behind the seats.
Speaking of seats, the interior is in great condition, with
recently added upholstery on the seats and door panels. The
three-piece tonneau cover is in place, and the hardtop mounts right
on top of it. That is if you choose to use the hardtop. In our
opinion, this car is best enjoyed with the top down! The engine
beneath the hood is a 289ci V8 mated to a four-speed manual
transmission. However as a MKI, the car left the factory with a
260ci V8 under the bonnet. The 289 was not used until the later MK2
Tiger. The Ford 289 has an aftermarket camshaft and headers,
believed to be LA Tiger items. The combination contributes to the
nice rumble that the car makes. Tiger Powered by Ford stamped on
the valve covers is a hard detail to miss on the engine, and
looking closer you will also see a Holley carb with an oval-shaped
air cleaner sitting on top. Other things to take note of in the
engine bay are the shovel-shaped indentation on the passenger's
side fender and the two holes next to it, as well as the
stick-welded reinforcement of the f
