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Why not Sunbeam?

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smcmanus

Jedi Hopeful
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I realize there is a Sunbeam forum but it gets little action. Why does the Sunbeam Alpine get no respect? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nopity.gif They sell for scrap value or giveaway, yet they are an attractive, sporty little roadster. They seem to resemble an early T-Bird. I have never driven one so maybe I'm missing something.

I was thinking of filling a barn with them. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

Thanks
Steve
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif My father had a Sunbeam Alpine, nice car. I think the real problem is lack of name recognition - here in the US most people think 'toaster oven' if you say Sunbeam. Another issue may be parts availibility, but I really don't know
 
I think they were looked down upon because the Tiger was basically the same car only with a zillion more horsepower.
 
I owned an Alpine for a short while - loved that little car...real civil but sporty enough to enjoy...more docile than our B's, but still fun...Jerri really liked it!
 
The Alpine and Tiger was designed by the same guy who designed the thunderbird... They are all just continuous improvements on each other (although I can't remember in which order they were designed, but ford probably had the bigger budget).
 
Always liked the look of the Alpine just never could find one in my part of the world. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
Being relatively ancient, I remember when the Alpine was introduced into the US. It wasn't particularly well received by sports car enthusiasts at the time – they viewed it as a British boulevard cruiser like the T-Bird. Although some folks knew that Sunbeam had a good racing record in Europe (and might even know who Henry Seagrave was) they seldom saw Sunbeams racing in the US. Then, as now, racing success could sell street cars.

The wheels were considered too small – we'd never seen wire wheels that small before unless on a baby carriage, and they made the car look “dinky” in magazine photos. People thought that the “traditional” English sports cars (MG, TR, AH, Morgan) handled better and were more fun to drive. They laughed at the fins.

Even a dealer near us criticized them, especially when a wrecked Alpine was towed in and more than a proper amount of plastic seemed to be used in the dashboard.

In later years, the fins shrunk, the Tiger was introduced, and other English cars got softer (rollup windows, outside door handles, and all that) so the Alpine didn't stand out as much as it had.

This was true in the northeastern US, maybe it was viewed differently elsewhere. I don't intend this as a criticism of the cars – I've never driven one and I'm sure they have their good points. I think they've aged well.
 
Before the Alpine of the seventies Sunbeam made some pretty saloon cars.A two door version and converible,(this was called "Alpine" too.In the fall issue of British Motoring from Moss,there is a Sunbeam saloon for sale.
I suppose this must make me "relatively" ancient,as I remember seeing Sunbeams on the road, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gifI agree that they have aged well.

Stuart. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif ( BTW what about a Sunbeam motor bike?)
 
I have driven an Alpine, and quite liked it.
I think John (Coldplugs) is right with his analysis, but many cars are more attractive now than when they were new; TR6 and TR7 would be good examples.

An Alpine is not a fast car, but the styling of the later cars is very attractive, they have wide, spacios cockpits and a very solid structure, derived, I think, from a Hillman based light delivery van. This made them a bit heavy, but tough enough to not fall apart in rallies on rough roads.

Apart from nicer looks, the later cars have 1725cc. engines so go a bit better than the earlier 1500 and 1600cc. versions. The engines are common to several small cars in the Rootes group, and many of the cars had overdrive.

Overall, its a nice car, but there seems no compelling reason to choose it over an MGB, and there are not many around to choose from, or other owners to socialize with.
All just my opinions, by the way.
Simon.
 
Didn't James Bond (Sean Connery) drive an Alpine in Dr. No a few movies before the Aston Martin became so associated with the character? It seems that would have given it some cache, but the toaster (as well as bread in the American South) association is very strong.

Isn't it the same problem for Singer cars and sewing machines, too?
 
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