1927 Rare Vintage Sunbeam 16.9 Tourer - The whole car looks Brand New

 Hidden away for some 60 years! A Vintage garage-find classic from the1920's. the great age of Sunbeam Motorcars. now returned to its full glory by a top-flight. professional restorer. The bodywork and paintwork are stunning. the panel fit is exemplary and the doors close beautifully with that pre-war railway carriage sounding Clunk - Click!.

The Restoration and Coachwork was completed by Trevor J Hirst Coachbuilders. New Forest. Hamps. to unquestionably Museum Quality finish. Bespoke Trimming by Pipers of Sherbourne. A world-class car 98/99 point car. which will impress any Concours Judge. See http://www. trevorhirstcars. co. uk/ As clean undeneath as it is on top. all looks new!
 
Imagine you can turn the clock back 84 years to a pre-war Sunbeam Dealership. this is what you might see in their Showroom. a factory-fresh looking. hand-built. Sunbeam 16. 9 model with magnificent open coachwork! Full weather gear included. hood. sidescreens. hood bag. The sidescreens are stored in a special compartment behind the rear seatback.

Today Trevor Hirst concentrate on high-value Vintage projects and it is estimated that the Cost to replicate a vintage rebuild of this quality today would be the thick end of around £75. 00. but you can drive this piece of British Motoring History away for a mere fraction of this cost!!

This car is eligible for all VSCC events and Rallies.

Fascinating History

The car was first seen by Phil xxxxx. the previous owner. some 50 years ago. when. as a lad of 13 he used to visit the Grove Garage in Christchurch. (then in Hampshire) The remains of the body were in a sorry state and it transpired that it was not even the original coachwork but from a cheaper Austin - what a travesty!. The whole car needed restoring. Despite living in Southampton his father called in every year to see if he could buy the car with a view to rebuilding it again as a Sunbeam Tourer. but the owner always said “NO“!

Later on in life. around 1987 Phil was seeking a car to restore and remembered the Sunbeam he had seen as a child and called in to Grove Garage to find that amazingly the old Sunbeam was still there but the same owner still refused to part with it as he wanted to restore it himself upon his retirement.

Another 20 years elapsed and eventually the Grove Garage business was sold. Shortly after which a Mr Barry xxxxx happened to go to the Garage on an unrelated matter and bought the car on the spot. Barry was a welder by profession (he made the luggage rack) but did not know much about vintage cars. Somehow he heard about Phil's interest in the Sunbeam and got in touch. Phil agreed to help as he knew Trevor Hirst. Trevor used to work for Rod Jolley who has a global reputation for recreating vintage coachworks to the highest museum quality standard. Before that Trevor worked in the Aviation Industry. He now has his own business building and panelling vintage cars. He has done work for the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu and was even flown to America to repair 'Spirit of America' land speed record car after it was damaged during a record attempt.

Trevor was accordingly commissioned to rebuild the car in its original form. The non-original Austin body was removed and sold to help finance the restoration. Trevor located an identical Sunbeam 16. 9 Tourer in Poole (Reg YX607) and took accurate measurements of this car which enabled him to recreate an exact duplicate ash frame and coachbuilt folding head coupe body to the pre-war original.

Following rebuild the car was professionally retrimmed by Alan Piper of Long Hazel farm. Wincanton. gain to original specification.

The total cost of these works was very substantial but Trevor estimates that to undertake the same project today would cost over £75. 00. Understandably the car looks like new inside and out and is enormous fun to drive.

Eventually Phil managed to buy the car from Barry and made further detailed improvements including the restoration of the original. unique Vacuum pump which feeds fuel to the Claudel Hobson carburettor.

Now on the market due to Phil's other project (also a Sunbeam) this wonderful. historical. 83 year old motorcar represents a very sound investment.

There is a friendly Owners Club dedicated to Sunbeam. Talbot & Darracq motor cars called the STD Register with a worldwide membership.

See Vidclip of this car http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=raqIhfuS8ig

For further information on this iconic car call John on 01253 734199 anytime Usual Dealer facillities. Modern cars accepted.

STOP PRESS

A previous owner has been in touch from the distant past. He owned this actual Sunbeam motorcar in the late 50's and has sent me some pictures of it in use providing family transport during his holidays in those carefree. pre-motorway days. The photos confirm that the body was identical to that which exists today. the only apparent difference being a toolbox on the nearside running board. but this could easily be added if desired. Now in his mid 70's the black and white period photos show the owner in his youthful 20's enjoying his early motoring career in this car for which he gave the princely sum of £25. those were the days!

Model History

Sunbeam produced high quality cars in low volume at Wolverhampton. UK from 1905 until 1934. But Sunbeam's golden period was really the 1920s under the leadership of the famous Automobile Engineer Louis Hervé Coatalen they created very well engineered. reliable cars —with  a great reputation on the track. They occupied a place in the market equivalent to Jaguars. Devastatingly the company was hard hit by the Depression and was forced into receivership in 1935. It was purchased by the Rootes Group. which continued to use the Sunbeam marque.

The 16. 9 HP model  was introduced for 1927. It featured a 2035cc six cylinder overhead valve engine rated at 16. 9hp. The chassis used semi-elliptic springs at the front and cantilever springs at the rear. A four speed crash gearbox was fitted. The 16. 9 was their most successful volume model.

Footnote

I have managed to find 3 other similar vintage Sunbeams on Classic Car Websites and Magazines.                                                                         They range in price from £49. 95 to a whopping £81. 00!!! 

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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