Up until 1959, the Sunbeam Alpine was a twee and traditional sports car, renowned for its reliability, tunability and impressive performance but with a curvy, cuddly persona and a traditional coach-built feel.
All that changed with the new generation of Alpines, though, which borrowed heavily from American styling influences and Rootes’s appointment of former Studebaker design genius Raymond Loewy. Pointy and low, the ’59 onward Alpines were very cool.
This one is the best of the lot – a Series V car, which means it has a five-bearing engine and Rootes’s lively and tuneable 1,725cc engine.
It is being offered direct from a private collection where it has been stored for the past 15 years and has just been fettled back to good running order for its next keeper.
The Alpine’s 2+2 configuration makes it a little more practical than most traditional sports cars, though rear seat passengers will still need to be quite small.
It’s a comfortable car, though, and the cabin is in generally very good order, with smart black vinyl seats and a wood-finish dashboard adding a touch of class.
A three-spoke sports steering wheel completes the look, while the carpets, door cards and mats are in a good state.
The bright red paintwork really suits the Alpine’s pin-sharp proportions and gives the car a striking appearance.
It’s in good condition, too, with no major concerns around the bodywork – the paint finish is great and there are no rust patches to speak of.
Close-up, the chrome is a little pitted in places but not to the point where you’d want to replate it. All of the trim is as it should be and it comes with a smart pair of period auxiliary driving lights.
One of the most appealing features of the car is its factory hardtop – a rare addition in its day and a useful one in a modern context as it adds security and better weather protection.
Unlike some hardtops of the era it’s quite easy to put on and take off, though it does require the canvas hood to be removed completely. The hood comes with the car should you wish to fit it.
Powered by Rootes Group’s five-bearing 1,725cc engine, this is the pick of the Alpines as the engine was not only the most powerful offered in the model, but also the most reliable, as well as being offered with a whole host of tuning options.
It’s in great running order with no apparent faults and held a steady temperature and oil pressure during out photographs.
The car hasn’t been used on the road for several years, though, so a full checkover is recommended.
Of all the Alpines, the Series V is the best and this is a good example.
Factory specification, unmessed with and with the rare hardtop, it holds a lot of enthusiast appeal as well as being a fine-looking machine.
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1966 Sunbeam Alpine Series V
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