Description
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
19th June, 2024 13:00
1960 Sunbeam Alpine Series II
Estimate
£11, 000 - £13, 000
Registration No: 3685 PU
Chassis No: B91016240DHR0
MOT: Exempt
Only 57, 850 recorded and belevied genuine miles
Desirable overdrive example
Four owners from new, having resided in the Colchester area for its entire life
An older restoration that still presents well
Matching chassis and engine numbers
"In the Alpine the needs of the sporting motorist with a young family are met. It is attractive, safe, and unquestionably fast in spite of the emphasis put on long-distance comfort. The world's markets are overdue such a car". (Autocar 1959) Introduced in 1959, the Sunbeam Alpine was a natural rival to cars such as the MGA and Triumph TR3. Built around a steel monocoque, it featured independent coil-sprung front suspension, a 'live' rear axle, and disc/ drum brakes. An attractive design, its lines were predominantly the responsibility of Kenneth Howes. Swindon born, this former employee of Ford's Detroit Styling Centre had also been schooled under Raymond Loewy. As such, the Alpine's 'micro Thunderbird' profile was perhaps little coincidence. Initially powered by a 1494cc OHV four-cylinder engine developing some 78bhp @ 5, 300rpm, the be-finned sportscar was reputedly capable of 98mph.
Manufactured in 1960, ‘3685 PU’ was first registered on the 11th of November that year and was finished from new in Racing Red paintwork with a Black leather interior upholstery with Red piping, and a Black hood. Supplied new by E. Farrow of Cross Engineering, Thorrington, Essex to Mr W. F. H. Gibbon Esq. of Great Bentley, Colchester, the Alpine was retained by the first owner for two years. Thereafter it was acquired by Mrs Draga Douce of Braiswick, Colchester, a well-known business woman in Colchester who ran a hairdressing salon on North Hill, Colchester. Apparently the epitome of the 1960s fashionable lady, the Sunbeam ideally suited her chiche persona. Exceptionally fond of the car, she retained it in her ownership until her passing in 1995.
Sold by Mrs Douce executors to a friend who had the Alpine restored over the next year, with a focus upon maintaining originality, the Alpine pleasingly retains the majority of its original panels and interior trim. The vendor thereafter noticed the car with and recognised it immediately as one he regularly saw in Colchester as a teenager, and after several years of asking to, successfully purchased the car. Since then, the vendor has significantly improved the car during his custodianship, with the enhancements including new rear wheel cylinders; a new heater valve; carburettor tuning; improvement to the front brakes; a new fuel pump; a new coil; a new battery; servicing; and more.
In regular use throughout the vendor’s ownership, the Sunbeam is due to be driven to the sale some 60 miles to the auction. Offered now with just 57, 850 recorded and believed genuine miles on the odometer, the Alpine is supplied with an original buff logbook, previous logbooks, a collection of MOTs from the 1970s; several previous tax discus, restoration images, a list of improvements during the vendor’s ownership, and a current V5C document. A matching chassis and engine numbers example with desirable overdrive, the Alpine has just four owners from new and low mileage.
