Offered for sale on behalf of one of our customers this Multi Award Winning Sunbeam Tiger in  outstanding condition. This car has only covered a documented 23000 miles and has to be one of the best examples of a Sunbeam Tiger currently available. The car will come with its awards, the Private number plate TGR 1C, several folders full of history and also a hardtop. 

 

History of the Sunbeam Tiger

The Sunbeam Tiger is a high performance V8 version of the Sunbeam Alpine, designed in part by American car designer and racing driver, Carroll Shelby along with his engineer and race driver Ken Miles of GT40 fame. Shelby hoped to be offered the contract to produce the Tiger, but Rootes decided to contract the assembly work to Jensen hence all Tigers have a JAL body shell build number for Jensen Alpine and Carroll Shelby was paid a royalty for every car produced.

Tigers were hand built between 1964 & 1967 and a total of 7128 Tigers were produced, mainly for the American Market.

 

History of TGR 1C

 

This car has had six previous owners with very little use in its early years. It was originally registered as GGA154C. The second owner John Clifford inherited the car from the first owner Terry Jones, as payment of an outstanding bill. He used the car for sprints / hillclimbs and never used it on the road until 1985 when he decided to licence it. The paper records from the original registration could not be found by DVLA,  therefore it was assigned the number BDF232C. This has been superseded by the private number TGR 1C.  The car was sold in 1992 to a Robert Johnson who had intended to restore it. This never happened and it was sold as part of his estate in 1995.  The next owner Michael Gadsby contacted Marque Specialist, Sunbeam Spares about the car and it was then sold to Brian Postle of Sunbeam Spares. Brian in turn sold the car to a Mr Kelly and a deal was done to carry out a full nut and bolt rebuild to concourse standard.  

The car was restored in around 2012 by Sunbeam Spares.A full nut and bolt restoration was carried out and the car was taken back to bare metal. A number of upgrades were carried out as listed below.

 

The current owner Mark  has maintained the car to the highest standard and has added a bit of detail to the car along with a few very hard to find items, like the tool roll.. He has extensively researched the history of the car which comes with the car. Mark is very very fussy with his cars, and it for him it simply must be right, which this car is. 

 

Current Vehicle Spec

 

Ford 302 Motorsport crate engine with alloy GT40 heads, Mallory distributor, Holley carb on period correct 1960s Edelbrock manifold, internally and externally ceramic coated tubular exhaust manifolds with custom 2 inch exhaust, high torque starter motor, alternator conversion using MK2 Tiger Alloy bracket,  black alloy high capacity radiator with original Coventry radiator plaque.

 

Tremec 5 speed gearbox with correct Tiger gear lever, limited slip diff rear axle, AVO adjustable shock absorbers with up rated front and rear springs, LAT traction bars.  16 inch Minilite wheels with the correct offsets. 4 pot front calipers were fitted

 

Full stainless steel exhaust system. 

 

Individual Machined turned Motolita steering wheel with Napa leather with Silver stitch rim, MK2 Mohair hood and tonneau cover, and rare and desirable factory options, radio console, clock and amp meter and sun visors.  

 

The Tiger has been deliberately made to look standard; under the bonnet it retains all its original fittings including the rare and original air filter housing (but with a K&N filter element to help it breath) Rootes embossed washer bottle, new genuine Ford competition high performance 8mm plug leads with the correct period Ford logos.

 

 It is very difficult to tell it has been up rated, the only real visual clues are the period minilite wheels and Motorlita steering wheel but it is in fact a very rapid motor vehicle.  

 

We also have the Rootes heritage build certificate, large boxes with massive history files with numerous folders with detailed receipts and photographs along with S.T.O.C. club features about the car, Tiger 50 book (featured on page 54) original sales brochures and numerous trophies and cups, it was selected to participate in the cancelled Scottish Champion of champions show 2020. 

 

Vehicle also has both its correct original Rootes keys and a tailored Tiger powered by Ford, soft breathable car cover and another protector cover to go over the top of this.

 

The car is absolutely outstanding and must be one of the finest examples available. Please feel free to come and see the car. Delivery can be arranged if required to mainland UK and we can assist with shipping overseas.

 

We have a more detailed write up on the car and also over 100 pictures of the car, which can be forwarded if required. 

 

Any questions please ask or call 07879 557668