Good Morning hope you are all well and immersing yourselves in everything classic.
Today we take a look at the stock of Gasoline Alley.
Our interest has been drawn to this little beauty
1965 Sunbeam Rapier Series IV
SUNBEAM RAPIER
This is a wonderful opportunity to acquire a genuine time warp Sunbeam Rapier Series IV.
The car was owned by a Mrs. Frazer from new in 1965 until 1989 having covered a genuine18,000miles. The car then went via a Mr. Ridley to R.F. Fuggle Ltd. of Bushey Heath and then to the last owner (Brian Johnson) in 1991, so basically a two owner car and had been in his private collection for 22 years. The car has now done 25,810miles from new!!
Brian took an interest in Historic Rallying and decided to put the car in the hands of
A.J.Barnard Engineering to have the sills strengthened and the engine and suspension etc.
prepared for regularity rallies in 1994! The car successfully completed a
few rallies and has since been in dehumidified storage and has been kept in excellent condition throughout.
A very brief description of the work carried out is as follows:
Aldon Stage II head
Bore, standard+.020=15cc
Compression Ratio9.3:1
Pistons, 1725cc type, modified
Cam, Kent 643
Flywheel, lightened and balanced with crankshaft, rods and pistons.
Inlet manifold matched to head
Standard as new Solex twin choke carb.
Oil cooler adaptor with oil thermostat fitted.
Stainless steel competition exhaust system.
Kenlo wet win fan system.
New radiator.
Facet fuel pump and filter/regulator in stainless braided hose in engine bay.
Remote battery switch, new auxiliary loom, fuses and relays.
Stainless steel brake hoses, Mintex pads etc.
Dural sump guard.
Seat belt mountings for 4 point harnesses.
Tow hooks front and rear.
Comprehensive Navigators equipment was fitted but the Halda Time Clocks have been Removed.
With the addition of a roll cage and competition seats (rear seats still covered in factory plastic) this
car would be ready to rally again in earnest or driven just for the pure enjoyment touring on the open roads or at club meetings.
The car comes with a large history file and is MOT’d and taxed ready for action.
A little bit of history:
Announced at the London Motor Show of 1955, the Sunbeam Rapier was the first of a new range of Rootes cars that was soon to include the Hillman Minx and Singer
Gazelle. A complete departure from the Sunbeam MKIII it replaced, it was a modern-looking two-door, four-seat Coupe. Standard equipment included leather trim and
overdrive and the cars were finished in a selection of attractive two-tone colour
schemes. The bodies were built by Pressed Steel, shipped to coach builder
Thrupp&Maberly in London for painting and trimming and then moved to the Rootes plant at Ryton-on-Dunsmore for final assembly. Though initially a little underpowered, the Rapier had inherently
excellent handling and was quickly adopted for rallying. Indeed the launch of the Series II version took place at the end of the 1958 Monte Carlo Rally in which Peter Harper’s Works Rapier had finished fifth overall.
Price: £10,950
General Specs
76,954
£1044
Performance
21.7secs85mph
63bhp
74lb/ft
23mpg
Engine
in-line fournormal
petrol
carburettor
Chassis
Independent, coil springLive axle, semi-elliptic leaf spring
front-engine RWD
N/A
metal monocoque
Four-speed manual
Dimensions
4077mm2438mm
1543mm
1473mm
1070kgs
By Post
Gasoline Alley Stanley Mills Whitley Street Bingley West Yorks BD16 4JH Registered in England.
Company Registration Number:
By Telephone
01274 56109807798 768676By Fax
01274 561098By Email info@gasolinealleybingley.co.uk
Opening Hours Viewing by prior appointment
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