Chrysler Talbot Sunbeam - Chrysler Sunbeam
After British Leyland was nationalised, the American company Chrysler told the UK government that unless they also got some state aid they would pull out of the UK and close their factories, and the government obliged. A new car was to be designed at Ryton which was going to be built at the Linwood plant in Scotland. This new car was based on the now ageing rear wheel drive Hillman Avenger, so the basis was already somewhat dated, but Chrysler had the front wheel drive Simca project in the pipeline. The car would be sold as a Chrysler and they settled on the name Chrysler-Sunbeam. The car was finished for 1977. The Chrysler-Sunbeams came in basic 1100cc Sunbeam LS , then the Sunbeam GL and the top range Sunbeam GLS. For 1979 the Sunbeam Ti with the 1600cc tuned Avenger was available, while Lotus had fitted their 16 valve engine and developed the Sunbeam-Lotus which was a great road car, and an excellent Rally car. Shortly after the sale of Chrysler to PSA the cars were all rebranded Talbot, along with the decision to shut the Linwood plant, which happened in early 1981.
Chrysler Sunbeam tyre sizes were; Sunbeam LS 145R13 , Sunbeam GL 165R13 and Sunbeam GLS 185/70R13 . Blockley produce all these sizes of 145R13 , 165HR13 and 185/70VR13 .
