Skip to main content

LOT 54

1965 Sunbeam Tiger Mark I Chassis no. B9473518 LRX FE Engine no. 254-F21KA

Sold for US$53,200 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 54

'From the Maine Classic Car Museum Collection'
1965 Sunbeam Tiger Mark I

1965 Sunbeam Tiger Mark I
Chassis no. B9473518 LRX FE
Engine no. 254-F21KA


260ci OHV Ford V8 Engine
Single 2-bbl Downdraft Carburetor
164bhp at 4,400rpm
Independent Front Suspension - Live Rear Axle
Front Disc – Rear Drum Brakes

*A prime example of Sunbeam's "Baby Cobra"
*Potent Ford power in a nimble British chassis
*One of 3,762 Mark I models built
*A fabulous sportscar for rallies and tours


THE SUNBEAM TIGER

Buoyed by the runaway success of the Anglo-American AC Cobra, Carroll Shelby sought out a suitable follow-up act. Shelby again looked to England to inspire his next project, and he found it in the Rootes Group's crisply styled Alpine Roadster. In the same spirit as the Cobra, Shelby and his team took a base Alpine, yanked out the mild-mannered four-cylinder engine, and shoehorned in Ford's 260 cubic-inch "Challenger" small-block V8. While the Ford engine was remarkably compact, it still required some precision modifications to the engine bay – made with a big hammer. The chassis and brakes were suitably updated to handle the extra power, and the car was given an appropriately flashy new name – Tiger. The Sunbeam Tiger offered junior-Cobra performance in a more modern, civilized, and user-friendly package. Amenities like comfortable seats, a proper ventilation system, roll-up glass side windows, made it feel generally more contemporary than the AC before it, and it hit the streets at a price point within the reach of the average enthusiast, spurring a cult-like following that continues to this day.

THE CAR OFFERED

This 1965 Sunbeam Tiger is one of 3,762 Mark 1 chassis produced. Smartly finished in red over black upholstery and a black top, it is a tidy and well-kept left-drive Tiger that spent many years in France before coming to the USA via a collector in New York in 2017, joining the consignor's collection shortly after that. Authentic details include the pebble-grain vinyl seat and door card upholstery, wood-rimmed two-spoke wheel, and factory instrumentation. Ford's potent little 260ci V8 engine is well-detailed, with the proper oval air cleaner and factory chrome valve covers, which are important to have as they carry a Tiger's engine ID information. The numbers on the valve cover tag correspond to the firewall tag, and the car carries the correct "XFE" chassis number suffix, indicating the Tiger production line.

Light, compact, and immense fun to drive, this tidy Sunbeam Tiger is a Cobra for the masses to enjoy on tours, rallies, and club events.

Additional information

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Cars specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Specialist section

Auction Viewings

  • 23 January 2024, 09:00 - 18:00 MST
  • 24 January 2024, 09:00 - 18:00 MST
  • 25 January 2024, 09:00 - 10:00 MST

Bid now on these items

1976 Rolls Royce Corniche
France
Coming soon

1976 Rolls Royce Corniche

€50,000 - €70,000
1935 Jaguar SS 2.5 Saloon
France
Coming soon

1935 Jaguar SS 2.5 Saloon

€40,000 - €60,000
1987 Saab 900 Turbo Cabriolet
Denmark

1987 Saab 900 Turbo Cabriolet

DKK275,000 - DKK350,000
1910 Brasier 12/18HP 12C Tourer
United KingdomOffered without reserve

1910 Brasier 12/18HP 12C Tourer

£40,000 - £60,000
Offered from the 'Somerset Hoard', barn stored since circa 1939 c.1902 Progress 9hp Two-Seat Open Tourer
United Kingdom

Offered from the 'Somerset Hoard', barn stored since circa 1939
c.1902 Progress 9hp Two-Seat Open Tourer

£35,000 - £45,000
Offered from the 'Somerset Hoard', barn stored since circa 1939 c.1903 Baker Electric Two-Seat Runabout
United Kingdom

Offered from the 'Somerset Hoard', barn stored since circa 1939
c.1903 Baker Electric Two-Seat Runabout

£35,000 - £45,000
Offered from the 'Somerset Hoard', barn stored since circa 1939 c.1903 Swift 6hp Three-Seater
United Kingdom

Offered from the 'Somerset Hoard', barn stored since circa 1939
c.1903 Swift 6hp Three-Seater

£35,000 - £45,000