1965 Sunbeam Tiger - Stored for 31 years -

 The late 60's television show "Get Smart" may have introduced many Americans to the Sunbeam Tiger but its blend of style and performance kept enthusiast interested long after Maxwell and Agent 99 retired.  

The Sunbeam Tiger is a high-performance V8 version of the British Rootes Group's Sunbeam Alpine Roadster. designed in part by American car designer and racing driver Carroll Shelby and produced from 1964 until 1967. Shelby had carried out a similar V8 conversion on the AC Cobra. and hoped to be offered the contract to produce the Tiger at his facility in America. Rootes decided instead to contract the assembly work to Jensen at West Bromwich in England. and pay Shelby a royalty on every car produced.

This 1965 Sunbeam Tiger is an unrestored survivor which spent 31 years stored in a basement.   With its original drivetrain and virtually all original sheet metal. this is the perfect option for having a spirited drive through the back roads.

Between the doors. a compact black vinyl interior offers room for two.   The seats sport red piping continued onto the armrest which terminates at the foot of the shifter.   The dash offers plenty of wood grain matched by the large diameter steering wheel.   The space wears its age well and offers amenities like an AM radio and a removable hardtop to help keep the elements out.

Lift the hood to find the original Ford 260ci V8 between the fenders.   Introduced in 1962. these compact power plants used basic elements from Ford's 221ci V8. increasing the bore to 3. 80 inches and bumping compressions to 8:8:1.   The result was a 164hp and 258lb-ft of torque usually reserved for the Ford Falcon. Mercury Comet. and early Mustangs.   Placing that engine in a lightweight Tiger equates to 8. 6-second 0-60 dashes and a top speed of 120 mph.   This Tiger remains in factory form with the exception of an upgraded four-barrel carburetor.

While the Tiger looks like a European sports car uptight. it probably has more in common with the average muscle car underneath.   The 260 is backed by a four-speed manual transmission that spins power to the rear axle.   The stock front suspension consists of double A-arms and coil springs while the rear is supported by a pair of leaf springs.   Steering is a manual effort and the brakes clamp down on front disc and rear drums.   At the corners. 13-inch wheels wrapped in modern radials grounds the chassis.

The sale of this 1965 Sunbeam Tiger includes the car's original two-barrel carburetor.

Also published at eBay.com

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