Description
If you are seeking a quality sporting saloon with genuine low mileage and lovely history, look no further. Presented in Island Mist with stunning Red leather interior, this rather handsome and very original Sunbeam Mk. III has benefitted from considerable recent recommissioning after being garage-stored for almost 20 years. Most recently in the ownership of a retired doctor from Devon, this fabulous motorcar starts and drives superbly and, in our opinion, represents excellent value for money when compared with other cars from this era.
Introduced by Sunbeam Talbot (part of the Rootes Group) in July 1948, the Sunbeam Talbot 90, as it was known until 1954, was available as either a four-door, four-light sports saloon or 2-door drophead coupe. Early cars were fitted with a 1944cc 4-cylinder engine with cast iron head producing 64BHP and capable of 80MPH whilst from September 1950, the Mk. II was bored out to 2267cc increasing power to 70BHP and providing better cruising ability. Power was increased again from 1952 with the launch of the Mk. IIA which further benefitted from bigger brakes and pierced wheels to aid with brake cooling. The final incarnation came with the introduction of the Mk. III in the summer of 1954 coinciding with the dropping of the “Talbot” name and “90” model branding. The Sunbeam Mk. III as it was called ran for 3 years and is easily identifiable by three distinct styling portholes to either side beneath the bonnet. With power up again to 80BHP and optional Overdrive, the car was capable of almost 94MPH and was very much the Ford XR3i of its day. Indeed, a Mk. III was the outright winner of the 1955 Monte Carlo Rally and revered racing driver, Jim Clark, was a big fan piloting a Mk. III on sprints and road tests around the Borders area of Southern Scotland before starting on his short but illustrious career in Formula One.
Our car was registered in Chester in July 1955 and remaining local was sold probably in the late 1960`s as a used car by Rootes Group dealers, Anchor Motor Company of Victoria Road to a lady near Crewe. She retained the Sunbeam for around 13 years covering around 500 miles annually (old MoT Certificates on file support this) before selling to a local garage in Cross Green. In June 1982, the car was purchased by a gentleman from Northwich who evidently used the car sparingly with notable maintenance work undertaken to include refurbishment of the overdrive, new exhaust system and water pump. After some 18 years of ownership and 4, 000 miles covered, the Sunbeam was evidently taken off the road whereupon it was garage-stored until early 2019 when sold to a gentleman in North Wales. Evidently in need of recommissioning, he overhauled the braking system with all new pipes and wheel cylinders, rebuilt the fuel pump and replaced the tyres. In June 2020, the car was taken for an MoT inspection, its first in 20 years, and passed with one minor advisory. Mileage at this point was showing as 58, 579. Within a month, the Sunbeam was sold again to a gentleman in Market Drayton who continued to improve the car undertaking some minor upholstery repairs and full leather rejuvenation. After just a year, the car was sold once more and was acquired by a retired GP from Newton Abbot who retained the Sunbeam until just a couple of weeks ago. In his care, he has carried out a full compression test (within 10 psi on each cylinder), rebuilt the carburettor, undertook a complete overhaul of the ignition system to include points, plugs, condenser, coil, distributor cap and leads, fitted 5 new radial tyres, a new battery and adjusted the timing. The car now starts instantly and runs better than ever. Since acquiring the Sunbeam, we have done little but polish and enjoy it. It is a very original car and a rare sight with just under 300 of all variants still road-registered today.
The photographs hopefully tell the story. This is a true survivor. Not a restored or rebuilt car, just one that has led a quiet, sheltered existence and has now benefitted from much recent mechanical fettling. Both bodywork and Island Mist paintwork are largely original and generally excellent with just a few age-related blemishes, whilst chrome and external trim would seem wholly original with some minor pitting evident. The interior is in truly superb order with fabulous Red leather trim edged White in remarkable original condition and whilst some light wear is apparent to the matching Red carpets, the overall ambiance is very evocative. This is a quality motorcar full of sporting character and this is abundantly clear from the layout of the dashboard and the tactile nature of controls and switchgear. It is quite simply one of the nicest cabins I have sat in for a long time. Turn the key, push the starter and the evidently healthy 2267cc fires immediately into life sounding purposeful and ready for the road. Select 1st and the Sunbeam pulls away smartly with column changes coming smoothly and swiftly. On a hot August afternoon, I took the Sunbeam for a run out towards Dorchester interested to see how it performed against modern-day holiday traffic. Indeed, it was me being held up by the lines of caravans heading back from the West Country! Plenty of performance, excellent handling and surprisingly positive steering encouraged spirited driving - even today, one can appreciate the sporting appeal of the model and I can understand why it was so successful in motorsport.
The Sunbeam comes with substantial history going back to 1970 including Sales Invoices, hand-written notes and letters, a large quantity of bills and receipts including those covering recent recommissioning work, lots of old MoT Certificates going back to 1974 and including the most recent from June 2020, an original Green Logbook, current V5C and Dealer Guide. Naturally, the car is both MoT and road-tax exempt.
A fabulous survivor with great patina and lots of character. Nice history 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.
