1966 Sunbeam Tiger

This 1966 Sunbeam Tiger Mk 1 was stored outdoors in Southern California for multiple decades before being acquired as a project by the seller in 2009, and a subsequent refurbishment was conducted between 2018 and 2023. The vehicle earned Lord Rootes honors at the 2023 Tigers United event, the Best of Show award at the Los Angeles Shelby American Automobile Club’s event in 2023, and first in class at the 2024 Grand National Roadster show. The car is finished in blue over lighter blue upholstery, and power is supplied by a 289ci Ford V8 mated to a four-speed manual transmission. Equipment includes a body-color removable hardtop, a black convertible top, American Racing 13″ wheels, and front disc brakes as well as an aluminum water-pump pulley and a extra fuel filter. This Tiger is now offered with a certificate of authenticity from the Sunbeam Tiger Owners Association, build records and photos, a set of steel wheels and hubcaps, a car cover, a soft tonneau cover, and a California title in the seller’s name. Finished from the factory in Midnight Blue (58), the car was repainted in blue and clearcoated during the aforementioned refurbishment, which reportedly involved rust repair and replacement of the doors, hood, and trunk using Sunbeam Alpine panels. The front valance was repaired, and the front floorboards also were replaced along with the trunk floor, the windshield, and the weatherstripping. Features include a body-color removable hardtop, a black convertible top, chrome bumpers, bright trim, a driver-side mirror, and dual exhaust outlets. American Racing eight-spoke wheels with bright lips are pictured on the car in the accompanying gallery mounted with Warrior radial tires measuring 185/70; a set of white-painted steel wheels, hubcaps, crisscross-style trim rings, and mounted Dunlop tires are included in the sale and shown in the gallery below, as is a fifth American Racing wheel. The seller notes that the American Racing wheels are best reserved for show purposes due to their age. The braking system has front discs and rear drums, and it was overhauled during the refurbishment and the front suspension was rebuilt. The car has traction bars and KYB shocks. The interior features bucket seats that were retrimmed during the refurbishment in blue vinyl with darker blue piping, a theme that carries over to the door panels and behind the seats. The blue wool carpeting also was replaced, as was the woodgrain dashboard and the glove compartment. Appointments include lap belts, a center-console armrest, and a heater. The seller notes that both doors’ window regulators and window glass have not been replaced, and care should be taken when operating the window cranks. The clock has been rebuilt under current ownership but is inoperable. The wood-rimmed steering wheel sits ahead of a 140-mph speedometer, a tachometer, and gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, and fuel level as well as an optional ammeter. The five-digit odometer shows 91k miles, approximately 400 of which were added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown. The 289ci Ford V8 is said to be a five-bolt-bellhousing engine that was rebuilt and installed during the refurbishment. A reduced-size aluminum water pump pulley has been fitted along with a fuel filter located between the fuel tank and the fuel pump. The radiator and the fuel tank were cleaned, and the wiring harness, heater core, and fuel pump were replaced. The exhaust manifolds have been jet-coated in silver paint. Power is routed to the rear wheels through a rebuilt four-speed manual transmission. The clutch lines were replaced and the clutch cylinders were rebuilt. The underbody has been primed and undercoated. The seller notes that the differential exhibits wear. Images of the car captured prior to its refurbishment will accompany the vehicle along with build records and the aforementioned spare parts. The Sunbeam Tiger Owners Association certificate of authenticity was issued in late 2018 and lists the factory color code, engine number, JAL number, and chassis serial number. The VIN cited on the California title contains a “66” prefix ahead of the car’s B9471358 chassis number. The title lists the vehicle’s make as “ROOTS” and the Body Type Model as “RDSSBTIG”.