Vehicle Description
Chassis No. A3013164/LRX
Engine No. A301 3731LRX
As England began to recover during the post-war period, so too did
automobile manufacturing with a majority of British sports cars
produced for export. At the time, there was no more exciting export
than a lightweight, hand-built British sports car. In fact, it's
still quite the combination today. Sunbeam offered their Alpine MKI
Roadster in limited quantities for just two years in 1953 and 1954
and naturally had quite the sales success - and race winner - on
their hands.
Initially conceived as a "one-off" rallye competition special by
Sunbeam-Talbot dealer George Hartnell, Sunbeam quickly realized its
potential and tapped in-house coachbuilders Thrupp & Maberly to
build a production version. A true Roadster, the Sunbeam Alpine MKI
was designed and built without exterior door handles and wind-up
windows and was offered with a removable windshield. The MKI
featured all of the componentry expected of a post-war car with
sporting intentions. Constructed with a unit-body on a box section
frame, power was provided by a 2,267 cc inline-four cylinder with a
7.42:1 high compression cylinder head producing 80 horsepower,
enough to push the lightweight to nearly 100 miles per hour.
Hydraulic Lockheed drum brakes were standard on all four corners,
along with front and rear independent suspension, and a four-speed
column-shifted manual transmission with synchronization on three
forward gears. Naturally, Sunbeam's new car was a performer, with a
team of four Alpines entered into the 1953 Coupe des Alpes Rally.
Stirling Moss captured 6th place in class, and Sheila van Damm
clinched the ladies' prize, the Coupe Des Dames.
Likely constructed for export, this left-hand-drive example is just
one of 801 configured as such over the MKIs two-year existence.
Photos document the complete body-off restoration, finished
approximately a decade ago, by marque expert David Wittmer. It was
restored in its original colors of Sapphire Blue with Light Fawn
leather upholstery with body-color-matched "easi-clean" disc wheels
fitted with appropriate Firestone whitewall tires. The car is noted
to feature both classic Lucas PL headlights and an optional
under-dash heater. During the restoration, the decision was made to
replace the column shift four-speed transmission with a fully
synchronized floor-shift Tremec five-speed. A change for the
better, the enhanced usability from this arrangement must be
experienced. It should be noted that the engine installed, while of
the right configuration, appears to be from slightly later in
series production. Since restoration, it has been lightly used,
with a notable highlight being its entry into the Monte Shelton
Northwest Classic Rally. Most recently the car has been kept in
Hawaii and exercised on the picturesque roads of Maui Island.
This well-restored Sunbeam Alpine MKI with coachwork by Thrupp &
Maberly, finished in the colors made famous by Cary Grant and Grace
Kelly in To Catch a Thief, includes a tool bag containing a tire
pump, jack, lug wrench, and starting handle. It is offered with a
tan Tonneau cover and correct Perspex side windows with matching
tan trim, each in their appropriate protection bags. Finally,
according to the consignor, the original engine will be made
available to the winning bidder with shipping to be paid for by the
buyer from its location in Hawaii.
