One of the most fascinating sports cars of the 1960s is also one of the least well-known. The Sunbeam Tiger was an early hybrid, not in electrification but in the fact that it combined a European car powered by a big American engine. The model was the progeny of British marque Sunbeam, owned by Rootes Group, and a Carroll Shelby scheme that stuffed Ford’s then-new 260 ci small-block V-8 engine under the bonnet.
Those old enough to remember Don Adams’ TV sitcom–character Maxwell Smart will recall that the bumbling spy drove a Sunbeam Tiger, a rare car when new in 1965 and one that’s even rarer now. The vehicle in Get Smart had a retractable Gatling gun under its hood and a few other essential spy accessories, but was otherwise a civilian-issue Tiger MK I roadster.
This 1967 Sunbeam Tiger Mk II, shown here with its removable hardtop roof, was sold for $95,200 at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction in 2020.
Nathan Deremer, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
The Tiger has a fascinating history, although its life was short through no fault of its own. Its predecessor was a handsome roadster called the Alpine, introduced in 1959 and made through 1968. The latter was a delightful car, comprising only a modest four-cylinder engine that, at its best, barely nudged 100 hp.
In 1962, Carroll Shelby officiated the marriage between Britain’s AC roadster and Ford’s small-block V-8, and the result was the Shelby AC Cobra. On the coattails of that car’s success in motorsport, Shelby and Sunbeam made a “baby Cobra” prototype in 1963, shoehorning that same Ford V-8 into the Alpine. Development was quick, and the resulting car was introduced at the 1964 New York Motor Show, the same year racing prototypes competed—but failed to finish—in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The example was the subject of a 1,800-hour restoration.
Nathan Deremer, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
Assembly of the Tiger—which Shelby originally wanted to handle—was ultimately contracted to Britain’s Jensen Motors, who had recently lost its contract to assemble the Volvo P1800 (another TV-spy car). Altogether, 7,128 examples of the Tiger were constructed, according to the book Sunbeam Alpine and Tiger: The Complete Story, by Graham Robson. That figure comprises the 6,495 examples of the first-generation Mk I, made through 1967, and the 633 produced of the subsequent Mk II.
Almost identical to its predecessor, the MK II had only a few distinguishing characteristics, such as its 4.7-liter engine, a Ferrari-like eggcrate grille, and bold side stripes above the rocker panels. Despite its light weight and capable engine, neither Tiger was high-strung in comparison to the AC Cobra or Shelby’s Mustang; the Mk II developed about 210 hp in standard tune, 46 hp more than the Mk I.
The Ford 289 ci V-8 engine makes 210 hp.
Nathan Deremer, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
The demise of the Tiger was yet another bungled chapter in British automotive history, the Rootes Group having been taken over by Chrysler in 1967. Mopar had no V-8 engine suitable for the tiny Tiger, which had barely an inch to spare within the cramped engine bay. Anyone who has tuned up a Tiger knows that to replace the rear-most spark plug on the driver’s side of a U.S.-spec car, the unfortunate mechanic must gain access through a plate on the interior firewall, or simply pull the engine.
Because the Sunbeam Alpine and Tiger are essentially identical, save for their engines and some unibody sheet metal beneath the exterior body panels, there exist many misbegotten conversions as well as some quite deceptive clones. Which is why documentation and impeccable provenance are essential when buying a Tiger. Consulting The Book of Norman [Miller], the official registry recognized by serious Tiger enthusiasts, is heartily recommended.
Only 633 examples of the Sunbeam Tiger Mk II were built.
Nathan Deremer, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
Condition is key in valuing a Tiger prospect. Rust of the unibody shell and decades of unfortunate modifications have reduced the number of top-tier cars on the market. A good-condition Mk I car is a $35,000 to $45,000 proposition, with an Mk II coming in around $70,000. Concours examples can command double.
Period-added LAT (Los Angeles Tiger) upgrades and accessories can add to the value, and like any rare cat, provenance and pedigree play a role in establishing the cost—the essence of which is felt behind the wheel. Raw, featherweight, and aurally indulgent, the Sunbeam Tiger expresses the very best of British-American sports cars.
Click here for more photos of this 1967 Sunbeam Tiger Mk II.
The 1967 Sunbeam Tiger Mk II that sold for $95,200 through RM Sotheby’s in 2020.
Nathan Deremer, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
Authors
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Robert Ross