The high-performance, V8-engined variant of the Sunbeam Alpine, the appropriately-named Tiger was produced between 1964 and 1967, and was designed in part by American racing icon Carroll Shelby.
Utilising an American Ford V8 engine, the conversion work was carried out by Jensen in England, with a royalty paid to Shelby for every car built. Two generations of Tiger were produced, the first (MK1) utilised a 260ci Ford V8, whilst the MKII - produced only for 1967 - made use of a larger 289ci V8.
A roaring success despite its relatively short production run, the Tiger was given a glowing review by the press, with Motor Sport stating that “No combination of an American V8 and a British chassis could be happier.”
The History and Paperwork
In current family ownership since 2000
Previously restored
Strong paperwork history since 1999, but with limited use in recent years
Originally out-shopped in British Racing Green in 1965, this Sunbeam Tiger 260 was re-sprayed Red prior to being purchased by the current owner’s late husband in 2000 as a project.
Initially, the car was given a general mechanical refurbishment and fettling to bring it up to usable condition, and remained this way for a number of years, before being “given a bare-metal respray” in the current hue of red as seen here.
As a family car, it was fitted with a pair of rear harnesses early on in the current family ownership, and in the years since it has undertaken numerous sunday pub runs, local journeys and - perhaps most importantly - the owner’s daughter’s prom night run, where it drew plenty of attention and even made it into the local press. Oh, and its other claim to fame? Overtaking Jensen Button when on display at the RIAT at Fairford; very cool!
Garaged in its current ownership, this Tiger also benefits from numerous drivability upgrades including a modern four-core radiator with switchable auxiliary fan. The 260ci engine also features as Holley four-barrel carburettor, ported head, Edelbrock performance inlet manifold and an upgraded performance cam, meaning it not only sounds fantastic but also starts on-the-button and drives well according to the vendor.
Sadly, in recent years, the car has seen limited use, and so the decision has been made to put it up for sale so that someone else can enjoy that wonderful Ford V8 sound and make even more memories behind the wheel.
The Interior
Black vinyl interior in need of some TLC
Rear harnesses and front belts
Folding soft top frame in good order
Inside, this Tiger is in need of some TLC to bring it back to its best, but the bones are good.
The seats are largely free of any rips, tears or damage, save for a few small ‘nicks’ on the rear of the front seats towards the bases, which are hidden in day-to-day use. The seat covers themselves are fairly worn, with numerous scuffs, stains and marks to attest to years of use and enjoyment, along with a couple of small rips on the nearside face of the central armrest.
Up ahead, the dashboard wooden veneer is cracked and peeling, whilst the glovebox compartment door is missing.
The carpets are commensurately worn but fine to use as they are, whilst the high-traffic areas such as the switches, toggles, door pulls and other touch-points wear a commensurate usage patina in keeping with the age of the vehicle.
The folding soft-top is stowed behind the front seats, and folds up into place with no resistance from the mechanism, though it does require some encouragement to slide correctly into the B-pillar area slots. The inside cover of the soft top is lightly stained and worn, but this does not affect its operation.
In the boot, the spare wheel is present, as is the jack.
The Exterior
Re-shelled in the early 1990's and then had a bare-metal re-spray in 2004
Bodywork in very good condition overall
Classic British sports car lines with all-American V8 power!
On the outside, this Sunbeam Tiger presents in very good order throughout, having clearly been well-kept since its aesthetic overhaul in 2004.
The paintwork is in great shape, showing only a few light blemishes and stone chips, as you’d expect from a car of this age. To be specific, the noticeable marks are on the offside front wing, door edges, nearside arch and the offside edge of the boot panel.
A small patch of bubbling has been noted on the lower rear edge of the nearside door, and this has been shown in the gallery below.
Being very particular, there are some age-related signs of cracking on the windscreen seal, whilst the various chrome trims and details are commensurately patina’d.
The folding soft-top is in good order, with no rips or tears noted. The plastic rear screen is discoloured and creased, but does not appear to be cracked or broken in any way.
The Mechanics
260 Cubic-inch Ford V8 engine
Numerous performance upgrades
Improved cooling system - no faults reported
Starts on the button!
Starting happily and settling into a smooth idle, this V8-powered classic appears to be in excellent mechanical health, with the vendor reporting no known mechanical faults.
Fitted with a modern four-core radiator and auxiliary fan, the seller states that since this upgrade was fitted, they’ve experienced none of the typical overheating issues often found with the Tiger, due to the compact nature of the engine bay with a high-displacement, heat-producing engine. In fact, they’ve never even had to use the switchable auxiliary fan!
In the engine bay itself, there is plenty of potential for a detailer to get their hands dirty, though there are no signs of any outwardly obvious issues, save for a few stains here-and-there.
Due to its age, the car is exempt from mandatory MoT examinations, and does not have a current MoT certificate.
Summary
Marrying British sports car design with American muscle, the Sunbeam Tiger has long held a cult classic status amongst the classic car fraternity, and it’s not hard to see why.
Offered for sale from long-term ownership, this Sunbeam Tiger would make for a compelling, usable and enjoyable addition to any garage or car collection, able to be enjoyed throughout the summer but with plenty of scope for fettling, tinkering and restoration throughout the winter months.
BEFORE YOU BUY
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