Various Rootes Cars

[aeronca65t]

These pictures are of various Rootes Group cars I saw at the Moss Motors Britfest a few months ago. I was looking for some other pictures and realized I had them.

(below) A Sunbeam-Superleggera Coupe. With Alpine 1725 engine and running gear. The vents over the lights allow cool air into the passenger compartment.

Rear of the Superleggara (with Magnettes and other Brit sedans)

Purple Tiger

Hillman

 

[vagt6]

Thanks for posting!

The Superleggera is lovely, I think. Not many outside of our LBC world know of these fine cars.

BTW, is the "purple" Tiger an original (aconite) blue? Acconite blue was an option on Midgets, if I recall . . .

 

[Tullamore]

The Superleggera is beautiful, I am a Sunbeam guy and have never seen one before.

 

[Silverghost]

That Superleggra is indeed stunning. To me, I see Rolls Royce Silver Shadow styling influences - headlight surrounds, shape and cut of rear end, bumpers, etc. A very nice car indeed....would I be correct to infer that Superleggra refers to the induction system?

 

[aeronca65t]

....would I be correct to infer that Superleggra refers to the induction system?

Superleggera is a form of coachwork where an aluminum body is drawn over many small-diameter steel tubes.
I think the classic "bircage" Maserati race car is built on "Superleggera" construction. Lots of other classic italian cars too.

Not sure of the source of the Tiger paint colour...

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Not sure of the source of the Tiger paint colour...

LSU

 

[swift6]

....would I be correct to infer that Superleggra refers to the induction system?

Superleggera is a form of coachwork where an aluminum body is drawn over many small-diameter steel tubes.
I think the classic "bircage" Maserati race car is built on "Superleggera" construction. Lots of other classic italian cars too.

plus, think Aston Martin DB4/5, also Superleggera bodies. Rough translation is "super light".

 

[Silverghost]

Ahhh....ok! Learn something everyday!

 

[Roger]

That Hillman, apart from being LHD, is the spitting image of one that I ran in England from 1965 to 1968.
It started life as a 1959 1500cc Minx, but when I sold it had a 1600 Sunbeam Rapier engine, gearbox and overdrive fitted, which made it considerably brisker!

 

[Bob Hamilton]

FYI, that Superleggra is Italian bodied and called a Sunbeam Venezia and very few were built. Robert Jaarsma of Cornish, NH is the Venezia guru.

Bob

 

[sammyb]

I saw a Venezia come up for sale recently on Craigslist. Can't remember the exact asking price, but IIRC, it was somewhere around $30K.

 

[aeronca65t]

All interesting stuff.

~HERE~ is some more info on this car.

Apparently, they considered making a V8 version. That would have been neat.

 

[Sownman]

There is a Venezia near me listed for sale on ebay right now
No bids yet. More realistic asking price of $14,500.

https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110335084058&viewitem=

I would like to but all my ar budget is spent on my Tiger


Steve

 

[philman]

I just watched "The Car is The Star" episode featuring the Hillman Imp (with the aluminum rear engine). Very fun.