Description
Wow! This is such fun. The rarest and most desirable of all the Rapiers from the Audax range, this cracking Series V presented in Gunmetal Metallic with Red flash and trim sitting on virtually new Minilite alloy wheels is a sight to behold. And it goes just a well as it looks! With 91 BHP from the factory, this is a true sporting coupe with impressive road manners, great brakes and working overdrive. Perhaps not a show-winner and offering scope for further detailing and cosmetic improvement, this Rapier turns heads everywhere and could easily be used and enjoyed on a daily basis. We just love it!
Introduced at the London Motor Show in October 1955, the Rapier was the first of the Audax range of cars manufactured by the Rootes Group under the Sunbeam, Hillman and Singer brands. Always a 4-seater 2-door coupe or convertible, styling was undertaken in-house albeit heavily borrowed from the design practice of Raymond Loewy and the 1953 Studebaker range. The Hillman and Singer counterparts (Minx and Gazelle respectively) followed a few months later and offered 4-door and estate car options and different trim levels. Initially offered with a 1390cc engine producing 62BHP, the Series I cars soon attracted interest from the racing and rally fraternity with early success in the 1958 Monte Carlo Rally. As the car evolved through four further generations, engines became bigger and power increased with parallel improvements in brakes, suspension and transmission. By the mid-1960`s, Rootes, seeking to launch their all-new Rapier fastback, decide to give the old design its final flourish with the Series V available from September 1965. The main upgrade - the engine - a 1725cc 5-bearing unit developing 91BHP giving the coupe a maximum speed of 95MPH. Within 20 months, the model was discontinued in favour of the new Arrow range. Just 3, 759 Series V examples had been built making it the rarest and most sought after today.
Our car was registered in Portsmouth in November 1965 making an early example. Sadly, we know little of it`s history thereafter albeit it moved to Co. Durham in the 1970`s and remained there up until just a few years ago. Most recently it has resided in Essex and has come from a collector moving in a different direction.
The Rapier presents just as shown in the photographs. Bodywork is generally very good with just a few bubbles under the paint on the passenger wing and door bottom. The underside including sills seems very sound whilst all trim, including chrome, glass and badging is original and good. The metallic Gunmetal paintwork polishes up well and looks very striking against the Red flash and roof. Inside, the interior is remarkably original with Red trim in excellent condition, tidy dashboard and original, if slightly worn, red carpets. Turn the key and that 5-bearing 1725cc fires up immediately. On the road, the Rapier is an absolute delight driving like a car from a much more modern period. Eager acceleration, smooth gear changes and firm brakes encourage spirited driving. I can see why the Rapier was and still is such a sought-after car in historic motorsport. Given its age, it is quite astonishing that something 58 years old can actually perform like this! It is genuinely huge fun and very useable on a day-to-day basis.
The car comes with sundry bills, old MoT Certificates from 2008-2017, old tax discs, an original Owner`s Handbook and Workshop Manual. It is naturally both MoT and road tax exempt.
A very useable example of a classic 1960`s sporting coupe with real pedigree. Rare too.
Shore Classics is based on the West Dorset coast within easy proximity of both Weymouth and the County town of Dorchester. As classic and vintage dealers, we offer full brokerage facilities. So if you require some help and guidance with selling your classic car or motorcycle, just give us a call today.
Deposit now taken.
