1963 Sunbeam Harrington Le Mans

For sale by auction on Saturday 31 August 2013 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
The Sunbeam Harrington Le Mans was introduced at The Earls Court
Motor Show in October 1961. The Le Mans name comes from the Sunbeam
win of 'The Index of Thermal Efficiency' Trophy at Le Mans by the
Harrington Alpine with registration number 3000 RW in April of that
same year. The Le Mans introduced some radical new coachwork that
literally chopped the rear fins from the car. Taking advantage of
publicity from the win at Le Mans. Rootes targeted American buyers
and sent as many as half of the 250 car production to US shores.
While the standard line of Harrington options were still available. br/>the Le Mans had more standardised production and was not offered on
a per-order basis like the Harrington Alpine. This meant that they
were offered as a Rootes product and not an 'official conversion'
and could be found on showroom floors. if a dealership was lucky
enough to even get one! The Le Mans does not carry the Alpine name
and is identified by its unique finless design with all units built
on Alpine Series II bodies.


This Sunbeam Harrington Le Mans was one of the last cars built. br/>being registered in April 1963. It was purchased by the vendor in
1986 and was then the subject of a complete restoration which took
three years. It is fitted with a Holbay engine; one of the last
engines overhauled by John Read. (the founder of Holbay
Engineering) before his untimely death in a World War II fighter
plane in 1992. This Harrington is well known to Sunbeam enthusiasts
as one with the highest in performance; the 1840cc engine with two
twin choke Weber carburettors giving 140bhp. overdrive on third and
fourth gears. 1:37 ratio rear differential and fourteen inch
Minilite wheels. The owner has kept this car meticulously
maintained throughout his ownership and has regularly driven it to
his home in Spain and all over Europe on rallies; the last major
outing was to Cannes in the South of France to attend the Sunbeam
Alpine anniversary rally - 3. 00 kilometres of trouble free
motoring. Finished in red with a black vinyl roof and new black
leather interior. this Harrington Le Mans is supplied with a V5C
registration document. an MoT test certificate which expires in
July 2014 and is ready to drive anywhere you care to choose! A rare
classic car and a sound investment for the future.

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