Sunbeam Alpine
| Company type | Automobile model |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Sunbeam-Talbot 90 |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Founder | Rootes Group |
| Defunct | 1968 |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Sports cars (roadster, drophead coupé, fastback coupé) |
| Parent | Rootes Group |
Sunbeam Alpine represents a two-seat sports roadster and drophead coupé manufactured by the Rootes Group during two distinct periods: initially from 1953 to 1955, and later from 1959 to 1968. Subsequently, the Alpine name was assigned to a two-door fastback coupé produced between 1969 and 1975. The original Alpine model, introduced in 1953, marked the first automobile from Sunbeam-Talbot to exclusively carry the Sunbeam badge after the Rootes Group took control of Clément-Talbot and the Sunbeam Motor Car Company in 1935.
Alpine Mark I and III
Originating from the Sunbeam-Talbot 90, the Alpine—commonly referred to as the "Talbot" Alpine—was designed as a two-seat sports roadster primarily for rally competition, initially developed by Bournemouth dealer George Hartwell. Launched in March 1953, its name commemorated Sunbeam-Talbot’s triumphs in the Alpine Rally during the early 1950s. At its competitive debut during the July 1953 Coupe des Alpes, it earned several accolades including four Coupes des Alpes, piloted by distinguished drivers such as Stirling Moss and John Fitch.
Equipped with a four-cylinder engine derived from the saloon but featuring an increased compression ratio, the Alpine also utilized revised gearbox ratios and, beginning in 1954, incorporated a standard overdrive unit. Although its chassis rigidity was somewhat compromised due to its saloon-based platform, it delivered an authentic open-top two-seater experience without external door handles or roll-up windows.
The Mark I and III variants (with no Mark II produced) were crafted by hand at Rootes Group’s Thrupp & Maberly coachbuilding facility in London between 1953 and 1955. Out of 1,582 units manufactured, 961 were shipped predominantly to North America, while the remainder were sold within the UK and other territories. By the year 2000, it was estimated that fewer than 200 examples remained extant.
The Sunbeam Alpine Mk I Special was powered by a tuned version of the 2267 cc engine featuring an alloy rocker cover and Siamese exhaust ports, generating approximately 97.5 bhp at 4,500 rpm through enhanced compression and a twin-choke Solex carburettor. Competition vehicles received further performance enhancements by ERA, increasing output to near 106 bhp.
The Alpine achieved cultural prominence when a sapphire blue example was prominently displayed in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 motion picture To Catch a Thief, starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. Despite efforts to authenticate surviving film cars, none have been definitively matched to original vehicle identification numbers.
Alpine Series I to V
The earliest Sunbeam Alpines originated from platforms such as the Hillman 14 and Humber Hawk before being succeeded by a more compact two-seat sports convertible based on the Hillman Minx chassis. Conceived in 1956 by Kenneth Howes and Jeff Crompton, this Alpine iteration was specifically engineered for the American market with a dedicated sports car philosophy. Howes, who brought experience from Loewy Studios and Ford Detroit, contributed approximately 80% of the design work.
Manufactured between 1959 and 1968 across five distinct series, close to 70,000 Alpines were produced before production ended following Chrysler’s acquisition of Rootes Group.
Series I (1959–1960)
The Series I Alpine utilized a modified floorpan from the Hillman Husky combined with a 1494 cc engine, incorporating numerous components sourced from within Rootes Group. It featured running gear derived from the Sunbeam Rapier along with upgraded front disc brakes and options including overdrive and wire wheels. Its suspension system combined independent front coil springs with a live rear axle supported by semi-elliptic springs. The braking system employed Girling components with 9.5-inch discs at the front and 9-inch drums at the rear. Notably, this model offered dual downdraft carburetors, a soft top with integrated covers, and was among British sports cars pioneering wind-up side windows.
Following 1959, coupé variants were produced by Thomas Harrington Ltd., including the "Harrington Le Mans" replica featuring a fastback silhouette and an enhanced 104 hp engine; these differed from racing versions by omitting tail fins. Up until 1962, assembly responsibilities were managed by Armstrong Siddeley.
A road test conducted in 1959 by The Motor recorded a maximum speed of 99.5 mph, acceleration from zero to sixty mph in 13.6 seconds, fuel efficiency of 31.4 mpg (imperial), and a retail price of £1031 inclusive of taxes.
Total production for Series I reached 11,904 units. One prototype gained recognition for its racing achievements under British Touring Car champion Bernard Unett.
Series II (1960–1963)
Launched in 1960, the Series II introduced a larger engine delivering 80 bhp and featured an updated rear suspension system, with minimal additional modifications. By the time it was succeeded in 1963, production had reached 19,956 units.
In a test by The Motor magazine, a Series II hardtop equipped with overdrive attained a maximum speed of , accelerated from 0 to in 13.6 seconds, and demonstrated fuel efficiency of . The tested vehicle was priced at £1,110 including taxes.
Series III (1963–1964)
Manufactured between March 1963 and January 1964, the Series III is the rarest Alpine model, with only 5,863 examples produced. It was available in two variants: the GT featuring a removable hardtop exclusively, and the ST which included a soft-top stored behind a compact rear seat.
Distinctive characteristics comprised pronounced fins, quarter-height guide-post windows, roll-up rear side windows, a vertically mounted spare tire, fuel tanks integrated into the fins, chrome bumper guards, later versions with a "flat" rear window hardtop, badges denoting Series 3 and Rootes Group affiliation, and serial numbers beginning with B 92___. Enhancements included an enlarged boot space, tube-type shock absorbers at the rear, microcell upholstery seats, and a vacuum-assisted brake booster. The GT’s 1592 cc engine was deliberately detuned to provide smoother operation.
Series IV (1964–1965)
The Series IV standardized on an 82 bhp powerplant fitted with a single Solex carburetor for both convertible and hardtop models. Rear-end design was refreshed by significantly reducing the size of the fins. An optional automatic transmission controlled via a floor-mounted shifter was introduced but failed to gain popularity. From autumn 1964 onward, a new manual transmission featuring synchromesh on first gear was implemented. Production numbers totaled 12,406 units.
Series V (1965–1968)
The final iteration of the Alpine incorporated a newly designed five-bearing engine equipped with twin Zenith-Stromberg semi-downdraught carburetors generating 93 bhp; certain export markets reported SAE ratings. The automatic gearbox option was discontinued during this period. Overall production amounted to 19,122 units.
A high-performance muscle-car derivative based on these later models evolved into the Sunbeam Tiger.
Competition
The Alpine earned significant accolades in motorsport across Europe and North America. Its most distinguished international achievement was securing the Thermal Index of Efficiency at the Le Mans race in 1961 with a Sunbeam Harrington entrant. In American motorsport circles, it proved competitive within Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) competitions.
In 1960, Vince Tamburo claimed the G-Production National Championship piloting the 1494 cc Series I Alpine. Don Sesslar achieved second and third place finishes in the F-Production National Championships during 1961 and 1962 respectively. By 1963, the Alpine advanced to E-Production class competition against formidable opponents such as the Porsche 356. That year Sesslar shared the national championship title while Norman Lamb secured the Southwest Division Championship.
Sesslar went on to capture the national championship outright in 1964 by earning five victories under SCCA’s top-five results scoring system. Dan Carmichael won Central Division Championships in both 1964 and 1965 and continued campaigning Alpines until his runner-up finish at the American Road Race of Champions in 1967.
Between 1962 and 1964, Bernard Unett drove a factory prototype Alpine (registration XRW 302), winning the prestigious Fredy Dixon challenge trophy in 1964. Unett later became a three-time British Touring Car champion during the following decade.
A six-car factory team participated in the 1953 Alpine Rally utilizing specially modified production-based vehicles estimated to produce approximately 97.5 bhp from their engines.
Alpine "Fastback"
The "Arrow" lineup was introduced by Rootes in 1966, broadening its range to include sedans and station wagons such as the Hillman Hunter. By 1968, the company added a Sunbeam Rapier Fastback coupé to the collection. In 1969, Rootes launched a more economical and slightly less powerful variant of this sporty model, which they named the Sunbeam Alpine.
Every car in this series was equipped with the group's durable five-bearing engine. The Alpine distinguished itself by utilizing a single Zenith-Stromberg CD150 carburettor, unlike the Rapier's twin carburettors or the H120’s dual Weber units.
Although many parts were sourced from Rootes' existing inventory—such as rear lights borrowed from estate versions—the fastback models featured distinctive elements like pillarless doors and rear side windows that opened in a manner similar to a cabriolet fitted with a hardtop. Certain versions also boasted elaborate wooden dashboards and optional sports seating.
Post-Sunbeam Alpine
In 1976, Chrysler, then the proprietor of Rootes, resurrected the Alpine name for an unrelated vehicle: the UK edition of the Simca 1307, a French-produced family hatchback. Initially marketed as the Chrysler Alpine, it was rebranded as the Talbot Alpine following Peugeot's acquisition of Chrysler Europe in 1978. The Alpine designation remained until 1984, while the vehicle’s design persisted under alternative names until 1986.
Notable film and television appearances
- A metallic blue 1953 Sunbeam Alpine Mk I is featured as Grace Kelly’s car in To Catch a Thief (1955).
- The Sunbeam Alpine Mk III makes an appearance in Night of the Demon (1957).
- Elizabeth Taylor is seen driving a red Series I Alpine in Butterfield 8 (1960).
- A white Series I Alpine serves as Glenn Evans’ vehicle in the early 1960s TV show Hong Kong.
- One of cinema’s earliest "Bond cars," a lake blue Series II Alpine roadster, is driven by James Bond during a chase scene in Dr. No (1962). This car was locally borrowed for filming. In Ian Fleming’s novel, agent John Strangways drives a Sunbeam Alpine.
- In Get Carter (1971), Michael Caine’s character is rescued by a woman driving a white 1968 Alpine roadster; subsequently, the car is shown damaged.
- The Sunbeam Tiger, a V8-powered derivative of the Alpine, was Maxwell Smart’s automobile in the 1960s TV comedy Get Smart. For gadget-focused scenes, an Alpine modified to resemble the Tiger was used due to engine compartment limitations; this customization was carried out by Gene Winfield.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger’s film Commando features an Alpine similar to those previously mentioned being destroyed.
- Michael Caine also drives a Sunbeam Alpine in Gambit (1966).
- A powder blue 1967 Sunbeam Alpine appears in Pretty Poison (1968).
- In the TV series Heartbeat, Jackie Bradley operates a green hardtop Series V Sunbeam Alpine during seasons 9 and 10; another gold hardtop is shown in season 11.
- In The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery (1966), George Cole’s character Flash Harry owns a crimson Sunbeam Alpine used to chase train robbers.
- Nancy Drew drives a light blue 1963 Sunbeam Alpine Series III in the 2019 television adaptation.