Description
This lovely Rapier has now been sold to Ireland
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Following the monumental success of the Rapier in the 1958 Monte Carlo Rally, The Rootes Group, with great fanfare subsequently offered 9 Rapiers to the European Motoring Press to test at the end of the Monte Carlo Rally, the Rapier with its acclaimed 1494CC Rallymaster engine was good for excess of 90MPH, sure footed and assured. Rootes had built a winner!
Styling was updated by the acclaimed Raymond Loewy, meaning that the Series II Rapier is anything but a Plain Jane, reminiscent in profile to the Studebakers of the era, with its beautiful pillarles fixed head coupe styling, modern and flash. Very much in vogue for the 50s and 60s era, inspired by what he had seen across the Atlantic Lord Rootes himself gave the design of the Series II Rapier great praise.
Coming to my subject car, being sold as I have made the decision to eventually reduce and end my classic car collection.
I am the third proud custodian of the Rapier, presented in Pearl Grey with Pippin Red.
The chrome bright-work is in excellent condition, as are all the original glass and body panels, free of corrosion and rot, this is a dry state Rapier.
The previous owner had been a long standing member and editor of the local Sunbeam Sports Car Club of SA,
Being sold new in 1958 by Stanley Motors in Alberton, on the East Rand of Johannesburg in the old Transvaal Province of South Africa, the Rapier was one of the original CKD cars assembled in SA by the then importers Stanley Motors.
It is truly unique in that a lifespan of over 6 decades, its mostly fully original, with factory matching numbers and detail, rust, rot and damp free, having been dry stored in its entirety, in the temperate climates of SA.
The car drives assuredly and effortlessly, having covered only 70000 miles, and being accompanied by its original owners and workshop manuals and history.
The 1494CC Rallymaster mill is eager to please, immediately peppy, as it has benefited from a very rare and in period retrofit downdraft Weber carburetor paired with an original Basil Green aluminium inlet manifold setup. (Included in the sale are the original and restored Zenith carburetors with manifold, linkages and air cleaner system)
The motor has excellent oil pressure and no signs of excess smoke or any undue noises. It has been properly maintained, and it shows.
The four speed transmission is quiet and shifts up and down with a smooth and precise action.
Being a non-overdrive specimen the Rapier benefits from a lovely long diff ratio, enabling more power through the rev range than the cars which had overdrive fitted would normally have had.
The diff is also quiet and has no abnormal or unusual noises, effortlessly laying down the power that so impressed those motoring journalists back at the Monte Carlo Rally in 58 to the tarmac.
Braking is also supremely powerful for a 1950s car, no doubt one of the benefits that Rootes had gained from Rallying the Rapiers.
Stepping in to the interior of the Rapier, you immediately sense an air of immense quality, which is to my opinion one of its finest features, original and unrestored, you are transported back to an era of quality, the individual front seats, covered in tasteful and original vinyl material offer excellent orthopedic support and easy tip access to the rear bench seat, which is also equally cosseting.
The lambs wool carpeting is truly perfect and unmarked, you can sense the love with which this Rapier was treated.
The original fluted dash with body matching metal fascia boasts its full set of clear and accurate gauges, almost aircraft like, imagine this fascia back in 58!
All interior accouterments and features are both present and in a good working state, minimal wear is however evident on the large ivory steering wheels outer surface, this perhaps adds some patina to the interior.
The boot area is just as impressive and still carries all of its emergency and hazard equipment. A new rubber mat finishes it off (The original rubber mat, now degraded, rests underneath)
In short, I think that with its proud heritage and Rally history, the Sunbeam Rapier is one of Britain's best kept classic secrets, get behind the wheel and you will agree. Having always been fascinated by the unlikely, yet sublime marriage of cutting edge Loewy exterior styling and the restrained British touch of the interior, the Rapier was always a car that drew my attention.
Sadly in South Africa, as in most of the world, Rapiers, especially the rare and most sought after SII variants did not survive well, so finding this unmolested specimen was indeed a hard ask, it became a personal mission.
The Rapier has benefited from many long runs with the Sunbeam Sports Car Club Of SA, its on the button, recent work performed includes:
Major lube service.
Spark plugs.
Ignition service.
General check over.
Rebuild of the current voltage generator.
Cooling system flush and refill.
Suspension greasing.
Some additional literature and spares of significance are included in the sale.
The car is clean and ready to showed and enjoyed.
The Audax Series was a huge success for The Rootes Group, and many an enthusiast will argue that they were likely the finest of all the cars which were produced in Coventry, a mix of unique styling, proper rally bred engineering and cabins that were comfortable for long distance touring.
Being an original and unrestored car, the Rapier gives that original feeling that many a restored car loses. It feels “just right”
At the rate of many a lesser car, the Rapier makes sense and deserves to be snapped up by its next fortunate keeper.
If you are interested in more information with regard to the listing, please feel free to reach out via the "chat" function and I will gladly oblige with any required info.
