1966 Sunbeam Tiger Mk 1A 302ci ◊

Designed in part by renowned American car designer and racer, Carroll Shelby, in an attempt to raise the declining fortunes of the Rootes Group, the Tiger was penned around the popular Sunbeam Alpine bodyshell with V8 motivation to compete successfully in World markets where larger capacity engines and sports car styling were at the forefront of late-1960s motoring.

Codenamed 'Thunderbolt', the whole project took place without the knowledge of Lord Rootes, and when he found out, he got 'very grumpy' by all accounts, although he had the good sense to get a prototype shipped to Coventry and was deeply impressed with the car when it arrived. Shelby had envisaged assembling them in America as he had done with AC Cobras, however Rootes opted to pay him a royalty on each unit and use West Bromwich-based Jensen Motors to build the cars. A total of some 7,085 Sunbeam Tigers were eventually produced, with the final cars rolling off the lines in 1968.

This 1966 Sunbeam Tiger was originally shipped new to Freed Motor Co. in Salt Lake City, Utah in late 1965. The car had been ordered by Louis V Olsen and specified with the alloy L.A.T. wheels and rear anti-tramp bars. The car was delivered to him on 9th January 1966, Chassis #382001530/LRXPE. The Sunbeam Owners Club has verified that the Tiger is a Mk 1A. Within the cars history file there are records of it been serviced regularly up to 1969, when it had covered 10,340 miles.

The car stayed in original ownership until 1989 when the son of Karl Foulks-Halbard VSCC of Fliching Manor, Polegate, in Sussex bought the car for himself and shipped it back to the UK. There is a complete documented folder verifying its history. The car was then purchased by Raymond Parrott in July 1991 having covered just 28,301 miles and its first MOT was in July 1993 @ 32,146 miles. There are consecutive MOTs for the next 11 years supporting the mileage. Raymond Parrott owned it for a further 27 years and from 2008 the car lived in a heated showroom within the house with the rest of his Collection. It was subsequently sold in 2019 to its current owner, our vendor Andy Hennessy in Ireland, who is a well known and very knowledgeable collector of Rootes cars.

Going back a few years, between October 2017 and March 2018 the car was subjected to a thorough refurbishment by Raymond Parrott.

The list of items replaced is too long to list here but included a brand new sports 302ci (4.95-litres) V8 which was built and supplied by Sunbeam Supreme of Leicester, at a cost of just under £4,000 complete with a new clutch, water pump, Edelbrock inlet manifold, starter and dynamo, new Holly carb and special alloy cooling fan. The 4-speed gearbox was treated to a US-supplied Hurst lifter gear change and a new twin stainless steel sports exhaust. Further upgrades at the time included comp springs all round, adjustable telescopic shock absorbers front and rear, rear anti-tramp bars, detachable hardtop, fitted with new Lucas roof spotlamp, twin fuel pumps, new leather seats, full wide seat harnesses and much more (full list in the file).

The new engine was fitted at 52,300 miles and the current indicated mileage is now 56,552. Coming from Eire, the car is not UK-registered, however, the previous UK registration was PHJ 95E which could be re-instated if still available. This is a really well restored car, with 'works' hardtop and search light. The original engine comes with the car but needs collecting from Dublin by the buyer.

This fabulous Tiger is being offered by Andy Hennessey, the world's leading collector of Rootes rally cars, from his Heritage Collection. The late Rosemary Smith, Irish rallying legend, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwCj07cXTxA has driven the Tiger on many occasions and signed the hardtop. She was filmed driving the car shortly before her passing.