Talbot Talbot Sunbeam History

Launched in 1977 as the Chrysler Sunbeam, this compact three-door rear-wheel-drive supermini was built at the former Rootes plant in Linwood, Scotland. PSA's 1979 takeover of Chrysler Europe brought the Talbot rebadge; standard cars used 1.0–1.6-litre four-cylinder engines and the model ran until 1981.

Its enduring fame rests entirely on the Sunbeam Lotus: a competition homologation special conceived by Chrysler Motorsport director Des O'Dell, fitted with a 2.2-litre 16-valve Lotus Type 911 four-cylinder engine producing 150 bhp in road trim (over 250 bhp in full rally specification) and a five-speed ZF gearbox. A run of 400 road cars was built to homologate the car for Group 4 rally competition.

The Talbot Sunbeam Lotus won the 1981 FIA World Rally Championship Manufacturers' title — competing against the Audi Quattro, Renault 5 Turbo, and Ford Escort RS1800 — the only WRC Manufacturers' title ever won by Talbot. Henri Toivonen had already made headlines at the 1980 RAC Rally by winning as the youngest-ever WRC event winner (aged 24); Guy Fréquelin and co-driver Jean Todt finished runner-up in the 1981 Drivers' Championship.