Purchased originally by a husband and wife (chassis 5 and 6)
Genuine Tiger with Ford Windsor V8 power - uprated to 302ci
Imported from a dry climate - very solid and original throughout
Last owned by the chairman of the Sunbeam Tiger Africa Register (STAR)
Has just been serviced and checked over prior to sale
Both cars are currently offered for sale on C&C by the same vendor
The Appeal
In many ways, the Sunbeam Tiger has a lot in common with the AC Cobra, not least the fact that it’s a dainty British sports car that has a beefy Ford V8 hiding under the hood.
But the commonality is no coincidence, as the man behind the original Cobra, Carroll Shelby, was behind them both.
The Sunbeam Tiger came about from a homologation requirement to allow Rootes Group to compete in V8 GT racing, using the striking Raymond Loewy-influenced finned body of the Sunbeam Alpine as a base. Indeed, the Tiger looked little different to the four-cylinder Alpine with which it shared its undeniably pretty bodywork, especially if you kept it on skinny tyres and factory wheel trims.
Each Tiger was hand-built, made for Sunbeam by Jensen Motors, so each was unique. This one has spent its entire life in the care of two South African enthusiasts, where the dry climate has done wonders to preserve its steel body. It was one of two cars purchased by a well-known sports car enthusiast in Gauteng Province, who had one for himself and another for his wife and has since been owned by the chairman of the Sunbeam Tiger Africa Register (STAR) for 42 years.
It has recently returned to the UK following minor refurbishment in South Africa. It’s a lovely, unmodified and unspoilt example of Britain’s Cobra, but on top of that it’s one of two for sale concurrently from the same vendor, which have a history together since the beginning of their lives and have sequential VIN plates. If you’d like a matching pair, here’s the other
Uprated to 4.9-litre (302) engine from original 4.3 (260)
All import duties and NOVA declarations complete
South African RC1 registration document
Will require first registration in the UK – a very simple process in which the vendor, a former South African resident, is happy to assist and costs less than £100
Bought new in 1965 by an enthusiast as one of two Tigers, one for him and another for his wife
6th of 73 cars exported to South Africa
Last owned by the chairman of the Sunbeam Tiger Africa Register (STAR)
History file presented in A4 lever arch file including old literature, workshop manual, concours entry forms and club paperwork
Recently serviced and prepared for sale at a cost of over £1,650
The Condition
Fully repainted in original brilliant white
Factory hardtop
All original panels and trim
Full-width wheel trims
Some small marks to chrome trim but in generally very good condition
Appears very solid underneath with no visible signs of any corrosion
Rust-proofed and undersealed
Black leather seats
Original wood-rimmed steering wheel
New carpets and black over mats
Wood-trimmed dash with a numbery of spidery cracks to the veneer
With its delicate full-width wheel trims and skinny tyres, along with its chrome headlamp surrounds and subtle chrome side trims, the Sunbeam looks little different to a four-cylinder Alpine – the only hints that its something a bit beefier being “Powered by Ford 260” badges and twin stainless tailpipes. Yet this one is even beefier than that as you’ll see below…
Overall, the body is in lovely order – it’s smart and neatly presented and in very good overall condition, with no visible evidence of corrosion and good panel fit. It has been repainted to a high standard but is otherwise original in every respect and appears to be great underneath.
Inside, it has optional leather trim in generally good order, but the passenger seat looks like it may need some adjustment.
The carpets have been renewed and all the dials and gauges work as they should, but the future owner may choose to refurbish the dash which exhibits a fair few cracks to the veneer.
The Mechanics
4.9-litre Ford 302 V8 – upgraded from original 260
Starts and runs as it should
Four-speed manual transmission
Sounds fantastic
Impressive oil pressure
Beneath the delicate exterior beats the heart of a lion – or maybe a Cobra…
The engine is even beefier than the original a Ford 260 Windsor small block – a 90-degree V8 with 164bhp in standard tune. This one is a 302ci (4.9-litre) version with 183bhp, a useful 19bhp increase over its original 260, with a Ram Air performance air filter.
The engine runs sweetly, holding an even idle and displaying good oil pressure. It shifts smoothly through all the gears and handles well with no unusual noises from the running gear. The brakes take a bit of getting used to – there’s no servo – but they stop the car evenly and it performs beautifully.
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check, to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing.
✓ Whilst ****Car & Classic check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed and we provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and so you are strongly advised to obtain a full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection or delivery.
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More about buying with us
1965 Sunbeam Tiger MK1 302
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