1965 Sunbeam Tiger MK 1A Roadster

• Rare Mk1A version
• 4.2-litre V8 engine and manual transmission
• Left-hand drive
• An older restoration
• Comes with Belgian registration

Inspired by Carroll Shelby's success in shoehorning a Ford V8 into the AC Ace to create the Cobra, Rootes' West Coast USA sales manager Ian Garrad asked Shelby to perform the same trick with its Sunbeam Alpine sports car, which was losing sales to more powerful rivals in the all important North American market. To begin with the project was unofficial, only gaining factory approval when a prototype shipped to the UK was driven by company chairman Lord 'Billy' Rootes, who declared himself hugely impressed.

Shelby chose Ford's 260ci (4.2-litre) 'Windsor' V8 engine, and even though this had 'only' 164bhp on tap it was approaching double the output of the contemporary Alpine's 1.6-litre four. The transplant radically transformed the car's character. Getting it to fit, though, was far from easy as Shelby later recalled: "I think that if the figure of speech about the shoehorn ever applied to anything, it surely did to the tight squeak in getting the 260 Ford mill into the Sunbeam engine compartment. There was a place for everything and a space for everything, but positively not an inch to spare."

Production was contracted out to Jensen Motors in West Bromwich, commencing in 1964. Jensen received fully trimmed Alpine IV bodies, which were then modified appropriately. The Tiger kept the Alpine's basic layout but featured a stronger gearbox and rear axle plus rack-and-pinion steering. Vastly superior to its Alpine progenitor in performance terms, the Tiger stormed to 60mph in under ten seconds and peaked at around 120mph, matching the rival Austin-Healey 3000. For those requiring more performance there were numerous tuning parts available for the ubiquitous Ford V8. The Mk1A version featured improved ventilation, steering wheel location, and hood stowage.

Sadly, the Tiger was killed off by Rootes' new owner Chrysler shortly after the revised 4.7-litre Tiger II was introduced in 1967. A little over 7,000 Sunbeam Tigers had been produced when the final cars rolled off the production line in 1968. Of these, only some 800 were delivered to the UK, the rest going for export.

The Sunbeam Tiger we offer here is a very nice and early example. Its chassis number identifies this left-hand drive Tiger as a Mk1A, produced between August 1965 and September 1966, during which period 2,706 examples were built. The car was restored some years ago and now shows a certain patina. It drives well and it gives you that instant smile on your face. This is how the Sunbeam Tiger was meant to be.

To the owner's knowledge the car has not suffered any accidents or been used in any competitive events, only for recreational activities. A very good opportunity to buy a nice driving, good looking car for rallies or Sunday trips.