Sunbeam Model History

United Kingdom · founded 1901

A celebrated Wolverhampton marque (1901–1976) — Grand Prix pioneer, land-speed-record holder, and maker of the iconic Alpine roadster and Ford V8-powered Tiger.

Models

Alpine

Sunbeam's two-seat British roadster — a James Bond car in Dr. No (1962) and the basis for the V8-powered Tiger.

Sports car · 1953–1968
Tiger

Carroll Shelby's other Anglo-American V8 roadster — a Ford-engined Alpine built by Jensen; Chrysler's takeover ended it after just ~7,083 cars.

Sports car · 1964–1967
Rapier

Sunbeam's long-running sporting coupé — five 'Audax' series from 1955, then the sleek Arrow-platform fastback through 1976.

Sports saloon · 1955–1976
Sunbeam-Talbot 90 / Mk III

The rally-winning saloon that fathered the Alpine — Rootes' prestige sporting car renamed 'Sunbeam Mk III' in 1954 when the Talbot name was dropped.

Sports saloon · 1948–1957
Imp Sport

Sunbeam's rear-engined Mini-Cooper rival — a twin-carburettor Hillman Imp with genuine performance and handling flair.

Economy car · 1966–1976
Stiletto

The sportiest Imp derivative — a fastback coupé combining the Imp Sport's tuned engine with the Imp Californian's sleek bodyshell and four headlamps.

Coupe · 1967–1972
3-Litre Super Sports

Sunbeam's direct Bentley rival of the late 1920s — a twin-cam 3-litre sports tourer built at the peak of the marque's Grand Prix fame.

Sports car · 1926–1930

Other makes