1965 Sunbeam Alpine
Highlights
- Quintessential 60s British sports car
- Three owners from new
- Impressive series 4 in white with a period black interior
- Plenty of paperwork including the original handbook
- Contrasting soft top and hard top included
The Appeal
The first of the open two-seater Alpines, based on the Rootes group’s Hillman 14 and Humber Hawk, the Alpine roadsters were a fusion of American tastes - thanks to the likes of ex-Studebaker designer Kenneth Howes - and good old-fashioned British open-top sensibilities. The result was a seriously stylish, neatly-lined little car, perfect for the American market.
This example, part of the 4th series, comes to us in a stylish white and black colour scheme, maintaining a fabulous level of originality.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered in 1965
- In current ownership since 2014
- Only three owners from new
- In 2015 the engine was rebuilt
- In 2017, the car underwent some further restoration and mechanical work
- It also underwent some paint touch-ups in the same year
- MOT exempt and was last tested in 2018
- Currently indicates 94,816 miles
- According to the MOT history, less than 3,000 miles have been covered since 2007
- The car’s paperwork includes:
- V5c document
- Two original ‘65 handbooks
- A collection of tax discs from 1999 to 2012
- Huge selection of MOT certificates
- Plenty of invoices dating back throughout the current ownership
- A selection of invoices from earlier in the car’s life
- Two sets of keys
The Interior
- Period black interior with light, understated styling
- Dashboard is clean and well-kept with only light signs of wear
- Period Jaeger dials in very good condition with light patina
- The clock is not working
- Impressive wire-spoke wheel in good order with light wear
- Switchgear in good condition with a non-prototypical Jaguar wood-trimmed knob
- Door cards have some light scratches and marks
- Seats are largely in good order, though the driver’s seat bolster is quite worn
- Carpets were replaced in 2017 and still look in great condition
- Interior of the hard and soft-top look in solid order
- Includes tonneau cover, which zips to allow driver access if required
- No sun visors - these are easily found online
The Exterior
- The vendor informs us that the car is wearing its original 1965 paintwork
- Bodywork is in fair order with some corrosion on the sills and arches
- Paint is in decent condition with age-commensurate wear
- Some overspray here and there in need of polishing
- We can’t see any dents or dings in the bodywork
- Brightwork, trims and branding carry a patina throughout
- Glasswork and lenses are free of chips and cracks
- The black hard-top is showing some signs of age-commensurate wear
- Soft-top appears in good order
- The car is sitting on period-accurate wire spoke wheels, which carry some wear
- The car is wearing Nankang tyres
- Underneath, we can spot some signs of surface corrosion throughout
- The car was undersealed in 2015
- However, we can’t spot anything of major concern
The Mechanics
- Powered by a 1.6L I4 powerplant
- Manual gearbox with synchromesh on the first gear
- Overdrive to 3rd and 4th gears working properly.
- The engine was fully rebuilt in 2017
- New clutch master cylinder installed in 2015
- Solex carb was overhauled in 2015
- Engine bay is in good order with age-commensurate wear
- The engine itself looks in good condition with no faults we can spot
- The vendor reports that work is required on the half-shafts
- This is due to an intermittent click on gear changes
- However, the car itself is running well with no major mechanical issues
Summary
Highly drivable, with an eyecatching level of retro styling, this Alpine is ready and waiting to hit the road. We’re convinced that this eyecatching little car has a very bright future ahead of it with the lucky buyer.
Vehicle specification
- Year 1965
- Make Sunbeam
- Model Alpine
- Colour White
- Odometer 94,816 Miles
- Engine size 1592
Listing Details
- Seller Type Private
- Town Chedworth
- Location Gloucestershire
- Country United Kingdom
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