Highlights

• US import in 1981
• One of only 8,368 ever made
• Only 44,776 miles indicated
• Recently recommissioned
• Historic vehicle status

The Appeal

The History and Paperwork

• US import in 1981
• First registered in March 1981
• One of only 8,368 Sonett IIIs ever made
• ‘Luxury’ specification
• Only 11 on the road in the UK, according to ‘How Many Left’
• Two UK owners
• Current owner since 2001
• Only 44,776 miles indicated, with MOT record confirming the low mileage
• Recently recommissioned in early 2022 after some years in storage
• Just about 20 miles covered since the recommissioning
• Historic vehicle status - tax and MOT exempt
• Extensive maintenance and servicing file with Workshop and Parts manuals
• Original import engineers’ report included as well as a number of old MOTs and invoices

The Interior

• Striking period interior design
• Leatherette and wool-like cloth seats designed by Henrik Thor-Larsen (of Ovalia Egg Chair fame), in good overall condition with a couple or scuffs and marks
• The upholstery to the door cards, headlining and boot area is also in good condition, with a few minor blemishes and some stitching beginning to come away
• Interior believed to be completely original, other than the headlining which has been replaced
• The air conditioning has been removed and the system degassed, although the pump can be supplied with the car if required
• The vendor notes that the horn is not working and that the fuel gauge can be temperamental, otherwise all the switchgear and instrumentation works as it should
• We particularly like the original Motorola radio unit
• Generally, the internal trim is in decent condition, with some marks and scuffs commensurate with the car’s age and a few pieces of trim that need reseating
• In the passenger side, a fire extinguisher has been installed
• Under the hinged rear glass, there is a decent amount of boot space and a full size spare wheel

The Exterior

• Orange paintwork was refinished a few years ago and new factory-spec side graphics applied, according to the history file
• We’re informed that the nose cone was repainted in early 2022
• The paintwork looks to be in fine overall condition, with a few minor marks and blemishes – there is some microblistering in places too
• The GFRP bodyshell looks to be in good order, with no cracks or damage we could see
• It’s reported that the steel chassis is in good order and has never been welded
• Underneath the car looks straight and clean, with no immediately apparent issues
• It is wearing the correct US-spec post-1973 impact bumpers
• Hand-operated pop-up lights (using a lever in the cabin) function as they should
• New CIBIE headlights were fitted in 2004
• Original cast aluminium two-tone wheels present well, with no major scuffs or damage and a matched set of Firestone F560 tyres

The Mechanics

• 1,698cc Ford Taunus V4 engine, offering 65hp to the front wheels
• Rebuilt Weber 34 ICH carburetor
• Manual four-speed transmission
• Work carried out in early 2022: new clutch, radiator, water pump, silicone coolant hose kit and engine mounts
• Stainless steel twin exhaust system
• New springs fitted approximately six years ago, since when the car has hardly been used
• The engine bay looks tidy, with no evidence of leaks we could observe
• We’re informed that the car starts and runs well, with no reported mechanical issues

Summary