Not to be missed, this is an incredible opportunity to own a car which has always been kept in the Edinburgh area from new. We are selling it on behalf of the current owner who purchased the Alpine in February 1972 and took it with him when he moved the short distance to East Lothian. So, he has owned the car for over 50 years!
Prior to that, the records show three owners from sale when new on 1 June 1967. These include the selling motor agents (Edinburgh’s main Rootes Group dealership) and two short-term owners, until it was sold to the present owner less than five years later. Fitted with seatbelts and driving nicely.
The new version of the Sunbeam Alpine introduced in 1959 was always a different car from its rally-winning predecessor, but also from the traditional, hairy-chested two-seater British sportscar. With its American influenced, be-winged styling, comfortable interior and modest performance it was never meant to compete with the likes of the Triumph TR series. Rather it was intended as a more civilized alternative to the MGA, especially in the US.
The Alpine series III introduced in 1963 launched the GT version which came only with a removeable hardtop and no soft top, the hardtop providing good all-round vision. The hardtop for the GT came in the same colour as the bodywork – Polar white in this example – whereas the optional hardtops for the Sports Tourer soft top convertible were only available in black. In addition, the GT benefitted from carpets instead of rubber mats and a wooden steering wheel.
By the time this particular car was made, the Alpine was on Series V (1965 onwards) and it was the penultimate year of production. By then, the engine was at its largest capacity of 1725cc with a top speed of 100mph and 0-60 mph time of under 14 seconds. Also, the rear “wings” had been toned down years before in order to update the look. Over all six series (I, II, III, IV, IVa and V) almost 70,000 were made in total of which around 3,000 worldwide are known by the owners’ club and very few are still on the road in the UK today.
With its exceptional ownership and locality story this Series V GT is even rarer still. Document history includes:
- original green logbook, two blue V5s and current red V5 all showing it has had the same registration number from Day 1 and verifying the owner history
- original owner’s service “chequebook”
- owner’s handbook and Rootes service dealership list, supplied with this car
- MoT certificates throughout 1970s and some later
- handwritten maintenance log for 1970s
- invoices for work done from the 1970s onwards
- invoices for complete overhaul of brakes in April 2022 at a well known classic car specialist – new discs, pads, shoes, etc supplied by Sunbeam Spares Co (total cost over £600)
Condition-wise the car is in remarkably good order. The original paint is not absolutely perfect, but it is very good, any marks are very small, age-related and it stands up to most scrutiny as does the factory steel hardtop, which isn’t rusty, the underneath is sound and the black vinyl seating is in good condition. Tyres have plenty of tread: Michelin Classic fronts and Goodyear rears. Brightwork and badging very reasonable, especially the bumpers. The optional overdrive fitted to this car still works. 97,884 recorded miles.
Where else would you be able to find such originality and long-term ownership – half a century?
Engine/chassis no: B395015478GT/OD/HRO (Series V GT/overdrive/UK market rhd standard specification)
Registered as a historic vehicle for vehicle taxation purposes, last MoT (no advisories) expired December 2018, mileage 97,552 when carried out, only 300 odd miles ago. Now exempt from MoT requirement.
PRICE – £15,350 ono
