Chassis No. A3013164/LRX

Engine No. A301 3731LRX

As England began to recover during the post-war period, so too did automobile manufacturing with a majority of British sports cars produced for export. At the time, there was no more exciting export than a lightweight, hand-built British sports car. In fact, it's still quite the combination today. Sunbeam offered their Alpine MKI Roadster in limited quantities for just two years in 1953 and 1954 and naturally had quite the sales success - and race winner - on their hands.

Initially conceived as a "one-off" rallye competition special by Sunbeam-Talbot dealer George Hartnell, Sunbeam quickly realized its potential and tapped in-house coachbuilders Thrupp & Maberly to build a production version. A true Roadster, the Sunbeam Alpine MKI was designed and built without exterior door handles and wind-up windows and was offered with a removable windshield. The MKI featured all of the componentry expected of a post-war car with sporting intentions. Constructed with a unit-body on a box section frame, power was provided by a 2,267 cc inline-four cylinder with a 7.42:1 high compression cylinder head producing 80 horsepower, enough to push the lightweight to nearly 100 miles per hour. Hydraulic Lockheed drum brakes were standard on all four corners, along with front and rear independent suspension, and a four-speed column-shifted manual transmission with synchronization on three forward gears. Naturally, Sunbeam's new car was a performer, with a team of four Alpines entered into the 1953 Coupe des Alpes Rally. Stirling Moss captured 6th place in class, and Sheila van Damm clinched the ladies' prize, the Coupe Des Dames.

Likely constructed for export, this left-hand-drive example is just one of 801 configured as such over the MKIs two-year existence. Photos document the complete body-off restoration, finished approximately a decade ago, by marque expert David Wittmer. It was restored in its original colors of Sapphire Blue with Light Fawn leather upholstery with body-color-matched "easi-clean" disc wheels fitted with appropriate Firestone whitewall tires. The car is noted to feature both classic Lucas PL headlights and an optional under-dash heater. During the restoration, the decision was made to replace the column shift four-speed transmission with a fully synchronized floor-shift Tremec five-speed. A change for the better, the enhanced usability from this arrangement must be experienced. It should be noted that the engine installed, while of the right configuration, appears to be from slightly later in series production. Since restoration, it has been lightly used, with a notable highlight being its entry into the Monte Shelton Northwest Classic Rally. Most recently the car has been kept in Hawaii and exercised on the picturesque roads of Maui Island.

This well-restored Sunbeam Alpine MKI with coachwork by Thrupp & Maberly, finished in the colors made famous by Cary Grant and Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief, includes a tool bag containing a tire pump, jack, lug wrench, and starting handle. It is offered with a tan Tonneau cover and correct Perspex side windows with matching tan trim, each in their appropriate protection bags. Finally, according to the consignor, the original engine will be made available to the winning bidder with shipping to be paid for by the buyer from its location in Hawaii.