Sunbeam - Sunbeam Alpine
The original Sunbeam Alpine dates from 1953, and developed from the Sunbeam -Talbot 90 saloon. Following success in the 1953 Coupe des Alpes the model was called the Alpine. These 2.3 litre 2 door drophead coupe cars were built at Thrupp & Maberley. Production of the earlier Sunbeam Alpine went to 1955.
For 1959 a completely different Sunbeam Alpine was built, based on the Hillman Husky. This was a sportscar aimed mainly at the American market. Styled by Raymond Loewy, the car used the Minx 1500cc engine fitted with twin carburettors. And it sported front disc brakes. For 1960 with the Mk.2 Alpine the engine was bored out to 1600cc. The Mk.3 Alpine came in 1963 which saw taller rear fins and a host of small changes while the Mk.4 Sunbeam Alpine introduced in 1964 had the power increased further, and now noticeable for having virtually no rear fins. The final model in the series dating from 1965, the Sunbeam Alpine Mk.5 had the engine stroked to 1725cc capacity. Sunbeam Alpine production lasted until 1968, which was shortly after the Rootes Group takeover by Chrysler.
Tyre sizes for the Sunbeam Alpine are as follows:
- all the earlier models of Sunbeam Alpine built from 1953 to 1955 were originally fitted with 550x16 tyres. Blockley makes a high quality 550x16 tyre that works really well, and looks very period correct.
-Sunbeam Alpine tyre size, from 1959 to 1968 were fitted with the 5.90x13 tyre, which is radial equivalent 165R13, and Blockley produces an excellent high speed rated 165HR13 which is perfect for the Sunbeam Alpine - see full details below:
- For anybody wanting to fit a non standard wider tyre (which has the same diameter) there is the 185/70VR13 tyre size which we also produce.
