Description
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1963 Sunbeam Alpine SII 1600 OHV Manual with Overdrive.
Being sold from my private collection of Continental and Classic cars, as I have ultimately made the decision to sell off my entire collection inventory, including my beautiful Sunbeam Alpine.
During the late 1950’s, The Rootes Group, had built a very strong reputation as manufacturers of, well built, and thoughtfully designed vehicles, adding to that prestige, they also produced some proper Monte Carlo Rally bred sportscars, in their Rapier range.
Lord Rootes had seen a lucrative and endearing market for fine roadsters in the 1950’s and predicted this trend to go forth, quite correctly so for the 60’s.
In 1956, he commandeered Kenneth Howes, ex Raymond Loewy Studios, to do a completely new range of Alpines, thus in effect replacing the aging Talbot Alpine MK Series in its totality.
Howes’s time at the Raymond Loewy studio in Detroit had played major role in the design of the all-new Alpine, he was joined by the well-regarded Jeff Compton, together they not only designed what many believe to be the finest of British roadsters, but an instant success in the sales division.
The Alpine brought new levels of refinement to the roadster segment, no longer did a buyer have to settle for rudimentary levels of comfort. Both MG and Triumph were caught off guard with the modern Alpine, making their contemporary offerings seem rather archaic.
The Alpine was soon a well-known car on the silver screen too, famously an Alpine SII was used by Sean Connery as James Bond 007 in the movie Dr No.
Coming to the subject car, I have enjoyed and cherished this beautiful Wedgewood Blue Alpine, as one of the finest roadsters in my collection, it has run alongside contemporary Alfa Romeo and Fiat convertibles, and the punchy Sunbeam always held its own.
I am the third owner of the Alpine, and was fortunate enough to obtain the Alpine, as its previous custodian was one of the senior members of the Sunbeam Sports car Club of South Africa, a real Rootes aficionado, thus affording the Alpine many hours of patient care and tinkering.
The coachwork of the Alpine remains in truly superb, and original order. The paintwork has a deep lustre, and shine.
All light fittings, lenses and brightwork are in near perfect order, original, and unrestored.
Included with the Alpine, are its original owners and workshop manuals, two very rare and original Rootes period marketing brochures and some other handy Alpine related books.
Being a cherished and cared for, dry state, up country car, the Alpine is free of rot and rust.
The complex crucifix chassis shows no signs of corrosion, and the subframe assembly and sills are also free of rot.
I cannot assume that a drier and more rot free, Series 2 Alpine, would today exist anywhere, this is an unrestored, and original car.
The Alpine’s interior is a lovely place to be. The dashboard and fascia are perfect, as are all the gauges and fittings.
The large diameter steering wheel, with its horn ring and Sunbeam badges are equally impressive.
The floor rubber and carpet coverings present as when new, and the seats, finished in their original Rootes Vinyl, are firm and supportive, and really do set the interior apart in their red and black finish.
The cabin is a lovely place to be, drop the top, and enjoy!
Included is the original aluminium hardtop, finished in the correct Embassy Black colour, further giving the Alpine a very classy and rounded appearance.
The boot area houses the spare wheel, jack, and other hazard equipment, al a neatly arranged space, with the original rubber floor covering intact. Recent mechanical work has been performed, ensuring that the Alpine is ready for the next chapter in its life;
• Full bleed and flush of hydraulic braking system.
• Major service, with filters and fluids changed.
• New Dunlop rubber on all four corners.
• New gearbox mounting.
• General check over and tune up.
The Alpine S2, is to my mind the best looking of all Series Alpines.
The later Series cars, with their clipped wings and minimalist grilles, lost that special Alpine charm.
The original design, with tail end wings, truly sets the Alpine apart from other roadsters of the era, and the original frontal treatment gives it a more substantial appearance, they truly have never built them like that again!
The Alpine is a well composed and steady cruiser. I have truly enjoyed it on the open roads of The Cape Winelands, with the top down and the windows up, the Alpine performs gloriously, click on the overdrive and it becomes a relaxed cruiser, eagerly taking you through the sweeps and bends, up mountain passes and through long straights, really a joy to own.
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