1966 Sunbeam Alpine Series V |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1966 Sunbeam Alpine Series V

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Mileage~87,513
TransmissionManual
Engine1.7L
LocationEastbourne

AUCTION CLOSED

1966 Sunbeam Alpine Series V

Introduction

Alan Stuart

Vehicle Consigner and Photographer

Utterly charming, achingly pretty, and good enough for James Bond!

Launched by the Rootes Group in 1959 the Alpine was aimed squarely at the North American market to capitalise on the success being enjoyed by other British manufacturers including Triumph and MG. The car was progressively improved through five “Series” until production ended in 1968 with just short of ~70,000 cars having been produced. By any standards the Series V was the best of the Alpines with the 1,725cc, 5 bearing version of the Minx/Rapier engine. Rated at ~92BHP, the car was good for a genuine 100MPH. Surely one of the prettiest of 60’s sports car, the Alpine made a great many TV and cinema appearances, most famously being driven by James Bond in “Dr No”. Alpines have been somewhat overlooked historically but have seen steadily increasing values in more recent years.

This car is the sought-after Series V. It comes to market from ~2 year ownership, and the vendor has rebuilt the engine, with the car now appearing mechanically sound and drives well. This Alpine comes to auction as a project car, requiring attention to the bodywork and paint to really make it shine, and while it is tax and MOT exempt, the car does come to market with a fresh MOT.

This listing was written from information supplied by Alan after meeting Dale 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 love these cars – they look great, are fun to drive and always raise a smile.

Dale bought this car as a project ~2 years ago. He is pretty comfortable working on cars and rebuilt the engine on this one, he tells us “The engine was seized when I got the car, so I set about a rebuild. I’ve done a de-coke and put in new shells, piston rings and a reconditioned head”. The work didn’t stop there “I wanted it to be sorted mechanically so I also fitted a new clutch and alternator. It drives really well now so I’m pleased with the result”.

Dale feels it’s time for someone to take on the rest of the project now. “It definitely needs someone to have a look at the bodywork and paint, they’re delightful cars and for an enthusiast this will make a great project with a lot of the mechanical work done”. He will be happy to answer any questions about his car in the comments section below.

Dale

Vehicle Owner

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Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Smooth flowing lines, purposeful demeanour, and elegant curves – the Sunbeam Alpine is an enduring British classic.

Wheels and Tyres

The 13" Mini-lite style wheels appear to have been recently painted and the chrome plated wheel bolts look in good condition. Close inspection reveals that beneath the paint there is some scoring and pitting.

The wheels are fitted with 175/70 R13 Hifly tyres which look to have good tread remaining, take a look through the images to see the detail.

Bodywork

This Alpine is a rolling restoration example, the bodywork will likely require attention over time, but it has passed through its MOT this year. As can be seen from the photographs there have been corrosion repairs using body filler in the past, and the alignment of the doors could be improved.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our hi-resolution images and videos. On this project car we’d recommend close examination of all of the bodywork images with particular attention to the A posts and inner wings. Please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view and to assess the condition of the car for yourself.

Paint

A mentioned previously, this car should be considered a project, and the blue paint has an uneven finish across the car. There is some corrosion and evidence of repairs under the paint in various places as would be expected on a project car of this nature. There is unevenness of the surface with scratches and pitting showing through and some cracking is evident.

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 hi-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 front windscreen has a small scratch but otherwise the windscreen, side windows, lights and lenses all appear sound and unbroken. The fabric hood is not showing major tears but is detached from the frame in places and both hood and frame would benefit from refurbishment. Dale also mentioned that the door window glass does need assistance when being opened/closed.

Front and rear chrome bumper overiders are present well as does the chrome grill surround. Other chrome, including the door handles, boot hinges and boot lock is serviceable but showing signs of significant pitting in places.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The cabin is light, airy and full of 60’s style and functionality.

Seats and Carpets

Black vinyl seats are generally sound with a minor tear on the passenger side and on the rear of the seat base. The blue carpets are dry and also present reasonably, we could see no major rips, tears or damage. Door cards present reasonably well with no major tears or damage.

Dashboard

The wood veneer dashboard looks in good condition and the instruments appear undamaged with no glass broken although there is some pitting to chrome bezels.

The dashboard is wrapped in self-adhesive vinyl and shows signs of ageing but appears free from rips, tears, or significant indentations, Dale tells us it was painted in the past to a bad standard, hence the choice to wrap it. Please take the time to look at the high resolution images and video of the interior so that you can assess the condition of the interior for yourself.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The after-market, three spoke, Mountney steering wheel presents well with no rips or tears and the stitching appears intact. Likewise, the Sunbeam branded gear knob appears undamaged as does the blue gear stick gaiter.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

A willing 1,725cc straight four,engine with twin Stromberg carburettors made the Series V good for a factory specified 100MPH.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine bay appears clean and well organised with no obvious leaks. Current owner Dale has carried out considerable work on this engine including a de-coke, together with the fitting of new shells, piston rings and a reconditioned head. In addition, a new clutch and alternator have been fitted.

The transmission is a four-speed manual unit without overdrive. On our cold start the car fired up easily with a little choke and settled down to an even, steady idle, the car having an electric fuel pump fitted to improve fuel delivery. Oil pressure looked good, and emissions appeared clear. Check out the “On the Road” video to see for yourself.

Suspension and Brakes

10” front discs combine with drums on the rear to provide very typical braking arrangements for a car of this era. Dale advises he has fitted a brake Servo to improve pedal feel and that the brakes work well.

Suspension is provided by independent springs up front and leaf springs at the rear with telescopic dampers all round.

The Drive

On our brief test drive with Dale the car seemed to perform well with a delightful rasp from the exhaust. The engine pulled well, oil pressure was good, and braking was even without pulling to either side. Gear changes seemed precise and although Dale advised the steering can be heavy at low speeds, once moving, the car seemed steady and compliant, very much a charming 60’s drive.

Check out the On the Road video to share in our experience.

Electrics and Other

Electrics are basic with these cars, but all dials and switchgear appeared in working order with the exception of the fuel gauge which we understand is the result of a faulty sender unit, along with the clock and the rev counter reporting incorrectly. Dale advises that lights, horn, indicators, and wipers all work exactly as they should.

The heater controls have been disconnected due to floor/screen flaps missing, although the heater works well having new matrix fitted from an MGB.

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History and Paperwork

The best of the Alpines – this Series V is a rolling restoration, it comes to market from ~2 years with a rebuilt engine, and an MOT actioned at the start of the month.

Alpines are becoming a rare sight on British roads and if you’re looking for a 60’s sports car project that’s a bit unusual, this car could be the right choice. The car has been in regular use recently having covered around 500 miles in the last year. It comes with a fresh MOT and, with a lot of mechanical already work done, could be considered a rolling restoration. Paperwork includes historic MOT certificates, tax discs and some receipts for previous work going back to the 90’s.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also 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
06.10.2023	MOT	84,513
15.07.2022	MOT	84,015
19.08.2005	MOT	83,835
05.08.2004	MOT	83,769
17.07.2003	MOT	83,533
24.06.2002	MOT	83,390
02.01.2002	Valve & Filters
22.11.2001	Strip Head
12.06.1998	MOT	83,169
23.05.1998	Fuel Pump
01.06.1998	Bushes
26.10.1996	MOT	83,103
22.06.1995	MOT	82,515
18.06.1994	MOT	81,531
07.07.1993	Clutch Master/Slave
10.06.1993	MOT	81,356
19.08.1991	MOT	79,511

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Key Details

ModelAlpine Series V
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date01.05.1966
CC1,725
Mileage~84,513 on Clock
HistorySome
ColourBlue
Interior ColourBlack
Interior TrimVinyl
Chassis #B395004821HRO
Engine #B395004821HRO
Engine RebuildYes
MOTExp 05.10.2024
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes
Former Keepers11
Tyre BrandHifly
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~2 Years
Key FeatureRolling restoration
Auction ID1689

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All Images

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Vehicle Location

Eastbourne

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Auction Closed

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This car didn't meet its reserve price and may soon be available as a private sale - please contact us for more information.

Ask Questions

Seller : DaleW

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

2 Comments

Landy88

1 year ago

Hi Dale,

Do you know of any bodywork areas that may need replacing / repairing before a full respray is undertaken ?

Thanks

Nick

DaleW

Seller

Landy88

1 year ago

Having owned the car approx. 2 yrs. I concentrated on the mechanical issues. ie. Engine, brakes, electrics etc. The body appeared rot free, although saying that there were signs of filler in places as previously mentioned in the write up. There are signs of previous welding repairs to underbody.

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Vehicle Location

Eastbourne

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