1964 Sunbeam Alpine (Mk IV) |

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1964 Sunbeam Alpine (Mk IV)

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£12,720

Mileage~16,822 (Around the clock)
TransmissionManual with Overdrive
Engine1.7L
LocationMonks Kirby

SOLD

1964 Sunbeam Alpine (Mk IV)

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Glyn Parry

Professional Consigner

A beautiful little drop head sports car - it isn't often that you'll see a Sunbeam Alpine on the roads these days.

In 1956 Ken Howes and Jeff Crompton were tasked with doing a complete redesign of the Sunbeam Alpine - of course their main focus was the US market, like many British manufacturers at the time, and what pretty car they styled that did well on both sides of the pond.

This example comes auction having undergone an extensive restoration with a bodywork strip down to bare metal, then restored with new panels and repainted by the previous owners. Historic works have also included an upgraded engine with gearbox overhaul, new brakes, clutch, suspension, new poly bushes, brake and fuel lines, new radiator, chrome fittings, rubber seals, new hood, stainless exhaust, a new wiring loom and many more new parts.

More recently, the brake servo and alternator was replaced in 2020, new tyres were updated in 2022 and a new carburettor and reconditioned cylinder head were installed in 2023, allowing it to run on unleaded petrol without the need for any additive.

This 1964 Sunbeam Alpine comes to the market after spending ~4 years with the current owner. The car was restored ~14 years ago, and is now ideal for anyone wanting to experience a truly usable and beautifully rare 60's classic.

This listing was written from information supplied by Glyn after meeting Pete the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

I've always wanted a classic British sports car that I could just enjoy, this one is everything I wanted it to be.

The Sunbeam's current owner, Pete, has thoroughly enjoyed owning his classic sports car over the past few years, dedicating time and effort to its upkeep and restoration.

Previous owners have also shown the same level of care and attention, as demonstrated by the paperwork gallery showcasing extensive work and investment throughout the car's history.

Pete shares, "I always wanted to own a Sunbeam Alpine, and when I had the chance to buy this one, I had to take it".

With less time on his hands and reduced usage of the car, Pete adds, "It's time for a new owner to enjoy the car just as much as I have. I'll be sad to see it go, but I want it to find a home where it'll be loved and cared for".

Pete will be available to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Pete

Vehicle Owner

Pete saved £2,160* when they
sold their Sunbeam with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

One of the first James Bond cars used on screen with curvaceous exterior styling and classic open-top motoring giving this Alpine its iconic looks.

Wheels and Tyres

The Sunbeam is fitted with 13" chromed multi-spoked wheel caps with a central disc. The wheels look in great condition and we saw minimal signs of issues.

Fitted with Uniroyal RainExpert3 tyres, both sets showed a tyre spec of 165/80. The tyres appear to have a good amount of tread left and date codes from 2021.

For a more detailed view of the Sunbeam's exterior and a closer inspection of the wheels and tyres, please refer to the photos and videos.

Bodywork

Looking over the Sunbeam on our visit, the car maintains good panel gaps and both doors, bonnet and the boot open and close smoothly. We didn't note any major scratches or dings to the panelling.

There is some corrosion to the bottom lip of the front bumper and a point if we're being picky, are the signs of corrosion to the lower sides of some of the wheel arches. The underside of the car could benefit from a clean over and a reseal to prolong the life of the bodywork.

We've highlighted our observations in more detail through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The stunning Wedgwood Blue coat is even in finish across all the panels, overall showing in good condition and compliments the chrome perfectly. There were no signs of any major concerns with the coverage and the colour showed nicely in the light.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass on the Alpine looked in great condition, in line with the age; we didn't notice any cracks or discolouration on our visit.

The window seals look in good condition too, matching the rest of the car. The front and rear lights looked well-maintained and well presented. Badges and motifs are all present and look smart in their presentation. The door handles also presented really nicely.

The chrome sections appear to be original; these show in good condition although they do show a few signs of pitting to the finish. There were a couple of small drill holes in the front and rear bumpers. Again, if we were being really picky, there is a small rivet missing from the triangle-shaped trim area on the passenger side door sill.

The soft top roof worked as it should and caused us no issues in its operation. A slight note was there was a minor crease to the roof edge on the body when we put the soft top up. A separate tonneau cover is also supplied with the car.

Take a look through the exterior gallery and review video. We take you across all areas of the car as if you were standing there yourself. This way, you can see in greater detail how the car is presented.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Almost like a step back in time, the beautifully presented and well maintained interior transports you straight to the 1960's.

Seats and Carpets

The Alpine is kitted out with black vinyl interior with contrasting blue trim, overall the seats look good given its ~59 years on the road; although we noted signs of wear to the driver's seat where the trim had started to come away from the back. We didn't note any concerns with rips or tears to the seats and the passenger seat showed well.

In the mid-section of the car, there was a slight sign of wear to the rear of the centre cubby box.

The main carpet of the interior showed in a good condition, looking underneath the mats showed the car had no concerns especially in the rear section. Over in the boot the carpet areas looked in great condition.

We cover the cabin area of the Sunbeam in further detail in our interior review video.

Dashboard

Classic 60's styling looks great across the dash area of the Sunbeam. A simple, straightforward setup on this section shows well for the age of the car and we noticed no scuffs or marks here.

The dash and instrument cluster are clean and smart, with all the numbers appearing clear and legible. The odometer displayed ~16,822 miles at the time of our visit.

The dials, switches, and controls all appeared to be in great condition, with surfaces appearing free from fogging or scratching.

Our interior gallery section offers a closer look at the Alpine's dashboard.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

A smart and clean setup greets you in the driver's area as you enter the car.

The gear selector displays signs of wear but is generally in good condition, with numbers clearly legible.

Additional images of the cabin area, including the steering wheel, are available in our Interior Gallery section - visit to see more details of what the Sunbeam has to offer.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

With an upgraded Webber carburettor, overhauled engine and updated gearbox, the Sunbeam has been given some special treatment.

Engine and Gearbox

Upon starting the car, we noticed no issues with the engine, and it idled smoothly. Pete mentioned that both the engine and gearbox operate very smoothly. The engine bay appeared clean and well-presented during our visit to the car.

We took the car out on local roads with Pete to get a better feel for its performance. Throughout the drive, we shifted through the gears and saw how the car handles.

Pete told us that he believes the engine and gearbox was overhauled at part of the restoration work, however, he points out that he was told this and there is no proof of work in the actual paperwork. It could be the engine is actually from a MKV car.

Like many cars of this era, there's a very small oil leak coming from the gearbox.

For a closer look underneath the Sunbeam and an overview of the engine bay, please refer to the mechanical video as well.

Suspension and Brakes

We noted no knocks, bangs, or issues from the suspension when we were on the road, and it gave us no concerns in its performance or handling. The brakes felt great and were easily able to bring the Sunbeam to a stop.

We cover the underside of the car in our 'Mechanical Gallery' section. Head over to our video section, where we've summarised our visit in more detail for you to view for yourself. We take you around the mechanical elements of the car and give you an overview of what's on offer here.

The Drive

The Sunbeam Alpine is a fantastic, fun, and peppy car to drive, thanks to the 1,725cc engine; it never fails to turn heads.

Gear changes were efficient with precise steering and sure-footed road-holding. An extremely fun and engaging drive is offered with the roof down on this Sunbeam Alpine and overall, a very smooth and rewarding drive out.

Our 'On the Road' video gives an overview of the car on some local roads and how it performs whilst driving.

Electrics and Other

All switches, dials, and gauges appear undamaged and in good condition. Pete mentioned that he's had no issues with the electrical elements of the car and confirmed everything working correctly.

The original cigarette lighter has been changed for a twin USB port in the dash area and a great note was that the light worked on the cubby hole box.

A separate tonneau cover is supplied with the car.

Over in the boot section, the jack and spare wheel were present.

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History and Paperwork

It's clear to see, that it's been a labour of love for the Sunbeam's previous owners, focused on the passion put into the car rather than miles on the road over the past few years.

First registered as KMG 856B on 24th August 1964 the Sunbeam is now over ~59 years old and both road tax and MOT exempt. The last MOT in the history file shows the car at ~12,829 miles, covering fewer than ~4,000 miles in the last ~14 years.

There was little paperwork carried with the car before 1993 where the next owner then started to update the Alpine. By 2010 the car had started its next stages of restoration with a strip down of the car to restore it, but unfortunately the owner passed away before he could complete the job. His friends at the local car club took up the challenge for him and completed the full restoration in 2019 spending over ~£9,000 on parts alone. Their labour was free and the final bill would have been well over ~£20,000 at the time.

After the bare metal strip, the Alpine was restored with new panels and then repainted. The engine and gearbox was also overhauled. New brakes, clutch, suspension, poly bushes, brake and fuel lines, radiator, chrome fittings, rubber seals, new hood, stainless exhaust, and new wiring loom have all been fitted as part of the restorative works.

More recently, the brake servo and alternator was replaced in 2020, new tyres were updated in 2022 and a new carburettor and reconditioned cylinder head were installed in 2023. Additional history on the Sunbeam is also included in the paperwork gallery section.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
30.07.2009	MOT	12,829
17.08.1993	MOT	12,254
12.05.1992	MOT	8,868

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Key Details

ModelSunbeam Alpine
TransmissionManual with Overdrive
Reg. Date24.08.1964
CC1,725
Mileage~16,822 on clock
HistoryGood
ColourWedgwood Blue
Interior ColourBlack
Interior TrimVinyl
Chassis #B94064490DHRO
Engine #T1202413N
RestoredYes
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes - All Clear
Former Keepers9
Tyre BrandUniroyal
Tyre Age2021
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~4 years
Key FeatureCondition
Vehicle RegistrationKMG 856B
Fuel TypePetrol
Body TypeSaloon
Auction ID1959

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All Images

All Videos

Vehicle Sold

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Ask Questions

Seller : PeteC Sale Date 11.07.2024

Post a comment or ask the owner a question about the car.

4 Comments

DamoKav

4 months ago

Hi Pete,
I do appreciate the cute looks of your car and one that I’d love to maintain. Having owned a couple of MGs from this era, it’s always the bodywork that counts.
Is it fair to say that the car hasn’t seen any paint since its restoration 14 years ago.
I can see a few bubbles on the side and would have liked to see the metal under the mats, but would it be fair to say the floor pans are solid and relatively rust free?
Thanks in advance.

PeteC

Seller

DamoKav

4 months ago

Hi
In my opinion the bodywork is very good with only a few minor issues.
I wasn’t involved in the restoration but from the receipts I have most of the restoration was done between 2016 and 2018. The paint was purchased in 2016 and so must have taken place after that date.
Hope that helps

crossfire1

4 months ago

Hi Pete, have you investigated the oil leak around the gearbox? Is it engine oil or gear oil ?

PeteC

Seller

crossfire1

4 months ago

Hi, no I haven’t done any investigations ( not thought it that serious). But I think it’s from the back of the gearbox

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Vehicle Location

Monks Kirby, Warwickshire

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