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Sunbeam Alpine (Series 1)
| Make: | Sunbeam | Model: | Alpine (Series 1) | |||
| Body Style: | Convertible | Engine: | 1.5 Straight 4 | |||
| Year: | 1959 | Band: | 3 | |||
| Seating: | 2 | Transmission: | 4 spd Man |
Made in the 1st week of production, complete with racking rear wings.
The 1959 Sunbeam Alpine was a substantially different from the 1955, 1st generation car it replaced. The earlier car was substantially larger with a design reflecting the post war Britain it was designed in. The new car had obvious design influences from America, particularly with its raking rear wings, reminiscent of a baby Ford Thunderbird. As with many sports cars of the time, the Alpine drew heavily on other cars from the Rootes range, using the 1494cc engine and transmission from the Sunbeam Rapier III and sharing the wheel base with the Hillman Husky estate.
The beautiful uncluttered lines of the clubs early Alpine, (from the first year of production), with the retracted hood concealed within the body, are a joy to the eye. As with the MGB, the very mechanical feeling Alpine requires drivers input, but is a very rewarding car, especially out on country lanes with the roof down in the summer. With its eager 1498cc engine, four speed gearbox with over drive, the 45 year old car is good for almost 100 mph meaning that it will easily keep modern day traffic and leave them standing in the looks department!
