1965 Sunbeam Alpine (Series IV) |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1965 Sunbeam Alpine (Series IV)

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Mileage~4,593 On Clock
TransmissionManual with Overdrive
Engine1.6L
LocationWeybridge

AUCTION CLOSED

1965 Sunbeam Alpine (Series IV)

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Automotive Editor, Photographer and Consigner

A beautifully restored Sunbeam, an elegant and smart choice.

The British open-top roadster reached its pinnacle in the 1960s when they were reasonably priced, cosy, and possessed robust engineering, along with flair with a dash of pace. Many British manufacturers competed for a market share in America, the Sunbeam Alpine's sharp styling and motorsport heritage provided plenty of appeal against the more common MGs and Triumphs of the day. Having first seen the light of day in 1959, the Rootes group (who owned Sunbeam between 1953-1955 and also 1959-1969) kept the car fresh with regular upgrades and improvements, with the Series IV being the most refined and comfortable of the 1.6-litre engined Alpine. With a long list of accolades on the big and silver screen, the Alpine is firmly placed in 1960s pop culture and this is a perfect opportunity to bask in its glory.

This 1965 Series IV Alpine was originally dispatched to New Zealand when new, and then was completely restored in the UK during the late 90s, living a charmed and pampered life ever since. Beautifully presented in red, with a near faultless interior and evidence of thousands spent over the last ~25 years, this has to be considered one of the very best RHD Sunbeam Alpine currently available on the market. Coming to market with evidence of its restoration, an impressive file of invoices and a handful of useful upgrades. View the full listing to see the detail.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Nigel 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

A pretty little car that turns heads without fail!

Nigel has owned the car for ~4 years, having previously enjoyed the charms of an older Sunbeam prior to taking this Series IV. It has been stored in a heated garage on his property ever since then and has been used for the occasional classic car meet and weekend excursion.

Decreasing use and the prospect of another classic car in the near future bring the sale of the Alpine. Nigel will be happy to answer any questions in the comments section below.

Nigel

Vehicle Owner

Ask Questions

CONTACT OWNER

Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Beautifully finished throughout, this little Sunbeam Alpine is ready to use straight out of the box.

Wheels and Tyres

The car is shod with its original style steel steel wheels and chrome hubcaps, all are in very good shape as pictured.

The Kelly branded tyres are likely to be older than 20 years old but all have plenty of life in them, we didn't notice any cracking in the sidewalls either. Take a look at the pictures to see the detail.

Bodywork

The panels are reflective of a car that has seen a full restoration, with no significant uneven panel gaps and a flush panel flow. We could not spot any signs of exterior corrosion and the car seemed to be free of dents. The structure of the car appears to be very solid, with the sills, inner wheel arches and floor pan looking great. The boot floor, suspension mounts and engine bay are in very solid condition, with no issues in terms of opening and closing the doors.

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

Paint

The red paintwork is in excellent shape, with a deep lustre and an even colour match. There was very little in terms of chips or wear.

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 trim in is excellent shape, with no outstanding flaws. The glass, seals, lighting and lenses are all free of damage, with the chrome work in very good order.

It is fitted with a handful of subtle touches to illustrate Sunbeam's motorsport heritage, which includes a pair of headlamp mesh covers and a pair of driving spot lights.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

A classy cabin with a touch of style, this restored Alpine is cleanly presented.

Seats and Carpets

The interior is very neatly finished with no outstanding issues noted, the seats are free of any noticeable form of wear with intact piping.

The carpets are all in good shape, with no signs of dampness, just what you'd expect from a restored example.

Dashboard

The dashboard is in excellent shape, generally free of blemishes or wear. The walnut-veneered facia is intact, with a full set of neatly presented instruments. All are said to work as they should. A new speedometer was believed to have been installed in 2000, which came with a zero'd odometer by the looks of it.

A Blaupunkt tape player and speakers have been added, presumably as part of its 1990s restoration. The door cards are clean and well-mounted.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The matching wooden steering wheel and gear knob are in excellent shape as pictured.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

A substantial amount of money and effort has been spent on the engine, and it really does show.

Engine and Gearbox

The cleanly presented engine fired up with no problems and no unwanted or uneven noises were heard from the engine as it idled. The engine ran smoothly once warmed up, with no unwanted exhaust smoke while the car was running. The car has been fitted with a pair of DCOE side-draught Webers onto a correctly flowed manifold and gas-flowed branched exhaust as well as an electronic ignition system and a Revotec cooling fan kit.

The 4-speed manual gearbox and its overdrive work well, with no reported issues with the clutch. Watch the video to see the car in action.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension absorbed the road well, with no unwanted knocking or thuds heard.

It brakes remarkably well, and in a straight line, with no unwanted vibrations of drama.

The Drive

Offering the archetypal sporting car experience, with its low-slung ride and back-to-basics appeal, it is surprisingly roomy inside with a decent level of practicality and comfort. The twin Webers mated to a stainless steel exhaust provided a wonderful soundtrack as we drove around the urban roads.

Its correct 1.6-litre engine was more than capable of propelling the car along the road with confidence, with tight cornering without any significant rattles. There were no observations of oil pressure or engine temperature issues, and the steering remained free of vibrations.

Electrics and Other

The Sunbeam is a simple car with very few electrical parts, but all electrical parts seemed to be working as expected during our visit.

The hood is in excellent condition, with very little in terms of wear. It raises and lowers without any problems and once up provides a snug fit. It also comes with a Tonneau cover.

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History and Paperwork

Coming to market from ~4 year ownership, this Alpine has been subject to a detailed restoration as documented, it has been exceptionally well looked after ever since as you see it presented today.

Originally exported to New Zealand in March 1965, it found its way to an owner in the Netherlands. Finally returning to the UK in the mid-90s, it was stripped down and then treated to full restoration to its original specification with photographic evidence. The current owner obtained the car in 2020. It comes with several MOTs dating back to 1997 and a sizeable stack of invoices that cover both the restoration as well as maintenance, including a ~£7,500 invoice for engine work in 2013.

It comes with its workshop manual, owner handbook and tonneau cover. The car is MOT and Tax exempt. It was issued with an MOT in April 2017 at 3,180 miles and has only covered around 1,500 miles since then. The Sunbeam had a new speedometer fitted in 2000, with a zero'd odometer. Please view the images below for a full rundown of parts purchased over the years.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned an 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, 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 of 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 bids, 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
04-04-2017	MOT	3,180
01-2017	Oil & Filter/Brake Discs	61,110 (Incorrect Reading)
31-08-2016	Fan Belt	-
21-04-2016	MOT	2,610
15-04-2015	MOT	2,491
22-04-2014	MOT	2,290
23-04-2013	MOT	2,198
21-04-2012	MOT	1,945
27-04-2011	MOT	1,895
08-07-2009	MOT	1,849
15-07-2006	MOT	1,754
16-07-2005	MOT	1,685
18-05-2004	MOT	1,459
24-05-2003	MOT	1,303
25-05-2002	MOT	982
26-05-2001	MOT	645
24-08-2000	Speedometer Changed	-
04-12-1999	MOT	72,859
11-08-1997	MOT	72,508