1913 Sunbeam 12/16hp Tourer

Registration no. DE 471 Chassis no. 6424 Engine no. 6750

Footnotes

Founded by John Marston, a God-fearing Victorian industrialist, Sunbeam was first associated with beautifully made, though expensive, bicycles. The arrival from Hillman in 1909 of influential designer Louis Coatalen and the pursuit of an effective competitions programme enabled Sunbeam to establish a formidable reputation prior to WWI, its superbly made products ranking alongside the best from Alvis and Bentley thereafter. Fewer than 5,000 of the four-cylinder 12/16hp model were made between 1910 and 1914, the example offered here being one of an estimated 50-or-so complete survivors worldwide.

Believed to be a Colonial model, this car was exported to New Zealand when new (hence the wire wheels, as wooden wheels were prone to termite attack). The Sunbeam is believed to have stayed with the first owner until 1955 when it passed to Walsh Motors in Cambridge, North Island (duplicate registration certificate on file). Walsh Motors kept the Sunbeam on display for a further 25 years before it was acquired by an enthusiast/engineer who carried out some restoration. At some point the car returned to the UK and eventually was offered for sale at a Hendon auction in October 1990.

The current vendor purchased the car in 2007. Improvements carried out since then include enlarging and improving the rear-wheel brakes and reconditioning the Dynastart in 2008 (invoices on file), and rebuilding the wheels in 2009 with new rims and spokes. Accompanying the car is the vendor's own coil ignition system, which can be carried as a spare and in case of emergency fitted to replace the magneto in around five minutes. A set of period-correct nickel-plated electric lamps has been fitted, together with indicators. Weather equipment consists of a full hood, hood cover, and tonneau cover, while rear passengers benefit from a foldaway Auster screen.

In addition to numerous other events, the vendor used the Sunbeam on the Sunbeam Talbot Darraq Register's Orkney and Shetland Rally in 2010, and the car is well known in Sunbeam, VCC, and VSCC circles. The vendor's treasured Sunbeam was used regularly until around six years ago, since when he has not used it due to a change in domestic circumstances. He has, however, regularly started and driven it at his home.

Documentation includes a VSCC Eligibility Document; VCC Certificate of Date; old/current V5C documents; a quantity of expired MoTs; a copy of The Register of Sunbeam Motorcars; and the aforementioned NZ duplicate registration certificate. It should be noted that the chassis number has not been found but is recorded as '6424' on the V5C.