1965 Sunbeam Tiger |

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1965 Sunbeam Tiger

Sold Price

£29,480

Mileage~137,033
Transmission4-speed manual
Engine4.3-litre
LocationBeaulieu, Hampshire

SOLD

1965 Sunbeam Tiger

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Editor and Photographer

A rare, V8 powered British roadster engineered by Carroll Shelby.

The Sunbeam followed the successful formula of blending a stylish, comfortable, and refined roadster with effortless cruising capabilities. The car immediately found popularity in the United States, where its elegant styling, subtle rear fins, and robust engineering caught the attention of the American division of the Rootes Group as the ideal platform for a high-performance upgrade. To deliver this extra power, Ford supplied a 260 cubic inch V8 engine and a four-speed transmission; a combination that completely transformed performance and allowed the car to sprint from zero to 60 miles per hour in just eight seconds.

Designed in part by American automotive legend Carroll Shelby, the Sunbeam Tiger saw a total production of around 7,100 units, with just 3,763 MK1 cars known to have been produced. While the vast majority were built in the UK by Jensen for the United States market, genuine United Kingdom specification right-hand drive examples remain exceedingly rare and offer significantly more exclusivity than competing British sports cars. Backed by an impressive competition history, the Ford V8 engine proved to be highly tunable, while the refined and daily drivable nature of the car made it a far more appealing option for enthusiasts who also prioritised practicality and overall value.

Coming to market from around a year with our vendor, this smartly presented 1965 MK1 example is finished in 'Midnight Blue' with a black interior, is certified as a genuine home market car, and includes its factory hardtop. The vehicle benefits from an undocumented historic restoration and boasts over £7,000 pounds worth of investment since 2020, including an interior refurb. It features an impressive file of provenance, including its original buff log books, invoices dating to 2020, and MOT certificates stretching back to 1986. Currently part of a dedicated classic car collection, the car was last serviced around 1,000 miles ago and has an MOT until the end of May 2026, though it is fully exempt from both MOT and road tax requirements.

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

Visciously fast and a comfy tourer, it's a seriously good drive.

Chris boasts an impressive collection of carefully stored classic cars, cementing his status as a true connoisseur. Among his collection is the Tiger which he bought approximately a year ago. Impressed by the crisp, delicate styling of the car, along with its addictive V8 power, it filled a small gap in his collection.

Alas, the car is being sold due to a lack of use and a consolidation of his collection. He will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below. Chris will have limited availability for viewings.

Chris

Vehicle Owner

Chris saved £5,220* when they
sold their Sunbeam with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

This Tiger offers solid underpinnings and bodywork with a decent finish.

Wheels and Tyres

The 13” Minilite-style alloys present well: they show mild surface marks but are all free of significant road wear.

The front and rear of the car are fitted with Goodyear Eagle tyres, showing a spec of 185/70 - these show a three-digit DOT code, meaning they are over 25 years old. They all have even tread.

Please take time to review the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior, wheels, and tyres so you can make your own assessment of their condition. Tyres are a key safety item, and you should consider replacing any that are cracked, perished, unevenly worn, or over 10 years old.

Bodywork

The exterior presents well, displaying flush panel alignment and uniform shut lines. The bodywork is entirely free of dents. Aside from minor signs of age on the wheel arch lips and a small under-paint blemish on the passenger door, the metalwork is in excellent condition.

All doors operate without obstruction.

The structural underpinnings, including the chassis rails, floor pan, boot floor, engine bay, suspension mounts and wheel wells, are remarkably solid, showing only mild wear and being thoroughly protected by a coat of corrosion inhibitor.

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 'Midnight Blue' finish displays a consistent hue with good coverage. It has a pleasing lustre and is generally free of swirl marks. There are a few surface blemishes across the car, with some mild spidering on some panels and minor orange peel texture on the sides: but nothing that detracts from the overall presentation.

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 presents cleanly. The windscreen seal does show some typical signs of age. All lights, lenses and trim pieces remain in good condition, are correct for the model, and are securely mounted.

The chromework is in great shape throughout, while the bumpers look smart and fit well against the body, with minor signs of age noted on the front one.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The refurbished interior beautifully maintains its authentic, original charm.

Seats and Carpets

The seats are in good shape with supportive cushioning, and the carpets are clean and free of damp. Both the upholstery and the carpets were refurbished in 2021 and have been well preserved since.

Dashboard

The dashboard padding is in good condition, while the wood veneer shows mild signs of age and a few small fractures, but it is generally in keeping with a well-kept cabin.

The switches, controls and dials are all in good order, and every item is reported to function exactly as it should. The door cards, headlining and surrounding trim are similarly well preserved.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel and gear lever reflect the positive presentation of the interior.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The powerful, smooth, and tunable Ford V8 delivers exceptional torque.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine starts up with no hesitation and idles evenly with no misfires or undulations. All dashboard warning lights remain off, and there is no unwanted smoke from the exhaust.

The engine presents well with no significant signs of age. The hoses and ancillaries are in decent condition, and it features an electronic fuel pump.

The gearbox has a good, slick action with decent shifts, and there are no reports of problems with the clutch.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension deals with the road surface with no outstanding issues, and it remains compliant and free of knocks or noises.

The car brakes evenly with no negative feedback or unwanted judders. The rear drums were rebuilt in 2021.

The Drive

The small-block Ford V8 pulls well during the test drive with a smooth, linear power delivery and plenty of flexible torque. The engine accelerates with no knocks or jerkiness, and we did not note any unwanted noises from the engine or transmission during our drive. The V8 thrum and its fast cruising ability lend themselves to a powerful grand touring car rather than an agile racer, which suits the exhilarating acceleration and civil road manners.

The car rides evenly and is free of any mechanical noises. The steering was demonstrated to operate without fault and is completely free of any pulling when braking or accelerating.

The oil pressure was around 75 PSI when starting and dropped down to a perfectly acceptable 60 PSI once the engine warmed up.

Chris has not really used the car since buying it, and we noticed the engine temperature was reading high during the drive. Since then, Chris topped up the coolant and test-drove the car during the recent hot spell. The good news is he reported that the temperature gauge remained perfectly centred with no signs of overheating. Chris captured this on video, which we have now included in the Mechanical Review video at 5min in.

Electrics and Other

We didn't test all the electrics during our visit but Chris told us everything was working as far as he knew.

The hardtop has a good fit and is in decent shape with no significant marks. We did not venture into removing it.

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History and Paperwork

A genuine home market car, it comes with its original log book and MOT certificates since 1986, on top of over £7,000 worth of spending since 2020.

Believed to have been first registered in Somerset in August 1965, the car originally left the factory with a red finish. It appears to have been re-registered in 1985 by the DVLA, picking up its current number plate on the way. The early buff log books confirm the same chassis and engine number. The documents also state that the car had eight owners up to 1976, when it was obtained by an owner who kept the car for at least 35 years. Since the early 2010s, the car has seen minimal mileage, having only covered around 2,000 miles.

Recent spending includes a new starter motor in 2025, with an additional £7,000 worth of spending since 2020. This includes a service, new carpets, and electrical, mechanical, & engine work in 2021 at a cost of £3,300. Amongst the file of provenance, there are MOT certificates back to 1986, a certificate of authenticity issued by the Sunbeam Tiger Owners Association, and several historic V5s. The car was last serviced in 2021, having covered around 1,000 miles since then. Its current MOT expires at the end of May 2026, though the car is exempt from both Road Tax and MOT requirements.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

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
28-05-2025	MOT	36,939
14-01-2022	MOT	36,365
24-11-2021	Service
25-06-2020	MOT	35,657
27-06-2017	MOT	35,566
25-05-2016	MOT	35,510
23-05-2015	MOT	35,505
20-03-2014	MOT	35,215
08-06-2012	MOT	35,080
16-06-2011	MOT	34,467
15-06-2010	MOT	33,510
15-06-2009	MOT	32,464
16-06-2008	MOT	31,289
05-04-2007	MOT	29,698
27-05-2005	MOT	28,110
02-06-2003	MOT	27,424
17-05-2002	MOT	26,535
15-05-2001	MOT	25,360
08-05-2000	MOT	24,312
19-05-1998	MOT	22,839
07-12-1996	MOT	20,587
02-06-1995	MOT	16,617
01-06-1994	MOT	14,034
08-05-1993	MOT	12,647
03-10-1991	MOT	10,419
13-10-1990	MOT	7,605
16-10-1989	MOT	4,813
30-08-1988	MOT	3,718
25-07-1987	MOT	1,158
22-07-1986	MOT	98,560

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Key Details

Year1965
ModelSunbeam Tiger 260
Transmission4-Speed Manual
Reg. Date12-09-1985
CC4261
Mileage~ 137,033
HistoryMOTs since 1987
ColourMidnight Blue
Interior ColourBlack
Chassis #B9472780HR0FE
Engine #3431
Last Service24-11-2021
RestoredYes undocumented
MOT27-05-2026
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes - all clear
Former Keepers3 Since 1985
Tyre BrandGoodyear Eagle
Tyre Age25 years +
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned1 year
Key FeatureRare home market car with Hard top
Vehicle RegistrationEDV 33C
Fuel TypePetrol
Body Type2 door Convertible
Auction ID3676

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Ask Questions

Seller : CCBCCBC Sale Date 11.06.2026

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

15 Comments

Frazzles

1 month ago

Hi can you tell me if you are aware of any rust on the car. Ie chassis rails, bubbles on body. Plus is the engine ok. Are there any strange noises or blue smoke coming from it?

CCBCCBC

Seller

Frazzles

1 month ago

For a car that is 60 years old it is in remarkably good condition the underside presents well with little or no corrosion and the bodywork as you will see in the photos is in a very nice condition. Engine runs well with no blue smoke visible

london

1 month ago

In response to question from richiegbr362…. I believe you will find the soft top is fitted. Need to remove hardtop and open rear lids. A soft top was reported fitted when this vehicle was last sold 12 months ago. Good luck bidding.

richiegbr362

london

1 month ago

That is very helpful, thank you

Terrence

1 month ago

is it possible to view your sunbeam tiger? Thanks

ColinB

Admin

Terrence

1 month ago

Hi Terrence,

We can help arrange a viewing for you, if you could send an email to [email protected], we just need to do some checks first.

Thanks,
Colin.

Terrence

ColinB

1 month ago

Hi Colin, what checks do you require?

ColinB

Admin

Terrence

1 month ago

Hi Terrence,

We do an ID check and availability etc, I’ll send you over the list if you email us.

Thanks,
Colin.

richiegbr362

1 month ago

Could you please let me know if there is a soft top or a frame for a soft top with the vehicle?

Thanks

CCBCCBC

Seller

richiegbr362

1 month ago

No there is no soft top or frame.

london

1 month ago

No worries. The 15” minilites are detailed on photo 12 in docs. You have 13” on car. Good luck with auction.

london

1 month ago

Hi Chris, nice Tiger. Can I ask a couple of questions please.
1. Will you get new MOT before sale?
2. Do you still have the 15”minilites as shown in the invoices? They would be great fitted with 195/205 tyres and get rid of those 25+ years old tyres.

CCBCCBC

Seller

london

1 month ago

As far as I’m aware the minilites are on the car, as the car is exempt I will not be getting it MOT’d

richiegbr362

1 month ago

Is there a reserve price please?

ColinB

Admin

richiegbr362

1 month ago

Hi,

All our cars have a reserve, unless stated, we can’t reveal it though as to undermines the auction.

Thanks,
Colin.

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Vehicle Location

Beaulieu, Hampshire

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