Sunbeam

The Sunbeam Alpine is a British sports car made in the 1960 by the Rootes Group. Rootes was sold to Chrysler in the mid-1960s, and some Alpines carry the Chrysler star badge.

I bought my Alpine in March, 2016. I had just sold my Factory Five 818 kit car on the internet and looking for a new project. My short list included a Volvo 1800, a Corvair, the Datsun 2000,  and a few British sports cars. I also considered building another Factory Five 818, but this time with an electric motor. Budget considerations ruled out the Volvo and the electric 818.

In the end, I felt that the Sunbeam had the most profit potential. Not that many were produced, and in my view the market has not caught on to the Sunbeam as an alternative to the Sunbeam Tiger and its association with Shelby. This rust free example was a good bet.

Here is the Alpine in the garage.

There is also a family connection. Cousin Robert owned 1.5 Alpines in the 1970s, if I remember correctly. The half? He shared a parts car with his friend Ricky. I believe that the white Alpine on the left side of the driveway belonged to Robert. Note the rust bubbling through the rocker panel under the door. How could that pass state inspection? Ricky is standing in the driveway in the lower picture. Is that a skateboard by his feet?