Born from Rootes’ desire to give the Sunbeam Alpine American V-8 power, the Sunbeam Tiger blended British sports-car excitement with Ford performance. This 1967 Sunbeam Tiger Mark 1 project was purchased in 1975, parked after a fuel-filter fire, and now awaits total restoration with its original tags, valid title, and hard-to-find parts all there.
Conceived by Ian Garrad, U.S. West Coast manager for Britain’s Rootes Motors, the Sunbeam Alpine-based Tiger grabbed a slice of America’s booming 1960s sports-car market. Given the Alpine’s international racing success, Garrad believed it was a strong candidate for American V-8 power, similar in concept to Carroll Shelby’s AC Ace-derived, Ford V-8-powered Cobra. Once Garrad obtained approval from Rootes, a Ford 260ci prototype was built in just a few days by Ken Miles to validate the concept, followed by a more involved conversion by Shelby American, which was tested by Garrad and then evaluated in England by the summer of 1963. Company management, including Lord Rootes, was enthused, codenaming the project ‘Thunderbolt’ and commissioning Jensen to build it.
First available in the United States in 1964, the car was dubbed ‘Tiger’ after Rootes’ 1925-26 Land Speed Record car. Sales were spurred in America by high-profile product placements in films and on television, including Mel Brooks’ popular Cold War spy comedy series, Get Smart.
Although conceived as a fast, GT-oriented road car, the Tiger also proved competitive, nearly winning the 1966 SCCA B/Production National Championship. With its excellent power-to-weight ratio and acceleration, the Tiger took a 1965 AHRA National drag racing championship. Only some 7,000 Tigers were built through 1968 along the Mk I and Mk IA – both 260ci powered, and the 289ci Mk II. Only Chrysler’s takeover of Rootes and cessation of Ford engine supplies ended the Tiger’s prowl.
Currently being offered for sale by the man who purchased it as a used car in 1975, this 1967 Sunbeam Tiger restoration project is powered by a 260ci Ford V-8/4-speed combination. Never wrecked or modified, it did suffer a fuel-filter fire, and the car was parked shortly after purchase. A restoration was intended, but business and other priorities came first and the years passed, with the Tiger’s restoration never completed. As offered, the car is partially disassembled, but complete with the hard-to-find parts necessary to bring it back to life. The tires are up, and it rolls. The seats are original to the car and in excellent condition. A total restoration is required, including major structural rust repairs to the body shell. All original tags remain in place, and there is a valid title document with no stories. The car is located in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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