Sunbeam Talbot 90 MKII, Floor Change, overdrive, very solid car...superb driver.

Sunbeam Talbot 90 MKII Saloon 1952. floor change/overdrive

Sunroof
Fantastic driving car…I love it.
48. 00 miles very probably correct.
Part Exchange always considered. cars. motorcycles or boats. classics preferred!

Many photos available on a link. showing the good. bad and ugly!

The car has been stuck on my lift over a new kitchen in my garage for a couple of months. nearly done the kitchen so could get it out again now!

If you want a great car. ready to enjoy this could be just what you need. Manual with Overdrive on 3rd/4th. floor gear change and factory sunroof. A great running car. ready to use. really very solid and having useful additions including the overdrive gearbox. recent heater/demister. four seatbelts and indicators working alongside the semaphore arms. Five virtually unused recent radial tyres too!

If you expect a mint Talbot 90 this is not right for you but I believe it is a charming usable car with bags of period character at the price advertised.

Only five registered keepers including the supplying dealer in 1952 (their enamel badge is still on the dashboard). has the original Buff log Book and Handbook plus a service data leaflet. lubrication chart and workshop manual on a CD.

It seems to be mechanically strong and gets plenty of admiring looks/comments when I am driving her. It drives straight. true and does not shake/shimmy or knock. Oil pressure on the gauge is strong and it belies its age in feel. Driving position aside it feels much more like a 70's car. The mileage of 48. 00 would very likely seem correct judging by the seats etc. there is some history to support it with the low number of owners but an obvious period of inactivity break the chain of proof.

Mechanics:-
Mechanically it starts stops and goes beautifully giving you an air of exclusivity. for this was a very fine car in its day. Boasting 2200cc and about 70BHP when most cars were half that size/power they were rallied with some success by Stirling moss and Sheila Van Damm.

The engine starts on the button. hot or cold and even the auto choke behaves! It does not smoke at all and runs/sounds beautiful.

The last keeper tells me the gearbox/clutch is new ( or rebuilt perhaps?)and the floor change is lovely. The floor change was offered as an option by dealers but proved to be rather weak. I believe this one is a very desirable stronger gearbox from another Rootes model (arrow series). supplied by a Talbot 90 spares specialist. It snicks in and out of gear like a much newer car and although I often double de-clutch as habit it can be driven without! The overdrive pops in and out instantly and makes the car so much more relaxed or sporting whichever you prefer. It is much more drivable as a result than many other cars of the era and other Talbot 90's.

I also think everything works (except the clock!) including the newly fitted/renovated heater demister. (this car seems not to have had one when it was new and the factory blanking plates are still there. )

The brakes are pretty decent. able to lock the wheels if hit hard enough. with exception of a very slight twitch to the right as they are initially pressed they pull the car up dead straight. this is not unusual with drum front brakes but further adjustment/tinkering may remove it.

I have inspected in all brakes and there are no fluid leaks. good shoes and all adjusters work! There are also recent flexi hoses visible etc.

I have also cleaned/serviced the hot spot in the exhaust manifold for trouble free starting hot or cold along with various other tasks to make this car throroughly usable.

Although now MOT exempt it was mot'd last end of July 2012 and has done few miles since. Tax is of course free.

Should you wish the starting handle does the job ;0)

Interior/Trim:-
The art deco dashboard. lovely great steering wheel and interior is all pretty original. with super leather wearing a great patina which personally I much prefer to new plastic looking leather retrims!. The steering wheel also is in lovely order. so often cracked and bodged.

I think in the Sunbeam Light Fawn leather colour it looks perfect too. The headliner was obviously done some years ago well. it is not perfect now but better than most and could be improved by remaking one warped board.

A big expense with any old car interior is poor leather and this is not a concern here. the car could be lifted by repainting the so period gold metalwork which was clearly repainted many moons ago in a shade rather too gold. It should be more bronze as seen in the glove locker.

The door cards. panels etc are all functional. no unsightly tears but could be remade simply if a "new" look is preferred. You may have realised I actually like a feeling of age/patina and the charming feel of previous use it brings. The carpets are better than some but I would replace these to make a big difference. They are really not bad but not original anyway and have some mildew marks.

The chrome is all spot on inside the car.   Chrome outside is very presentable. by no means perfect. but shines on a lovely old girl. It is all there which is important. this car without options fitted had no over riders on the bumpers and painted headlight rims from standard.

Body/Chassis:-
The underside is as solid as a rock. well waxoyled but not covered in black hiding horrors. nbsp;most of the body too is free of rust. Boot. bonnet. spare wheel cover all rust free.  It has over its 61 years had repairs to the rear wings and sill areas etc and these are super strong. A. and C pillars all seem fine under paint. as do hidden parts looking into the hinge apertures. Only the four doors remain to be repaired properly on the metalwork. they have a little corrosion in the bottoms but for one of these cars famous for rotten doors (the seal is on the drop glass so if wound down all water pours into the door ;0) they are really not too bad. The frames are generally sound and just the very bottom of the outer skins with rust issues. most if not all of the drain holes still present in the frame bottoms!

A previous owner although evidently competent with mechanics and welding repairs was not so good with the paint. It shines well enough and was done many years ago (bills in file for paint and code used) so no hidden surprises which is a real bonus I think!. too often I have bought a nice shiny car to find underneath that new paint is id pretty rough. however the preparation and finishing to repairs was not particularly good.   It has polished to present a good looking car but to do this fine solid driving car justice it would benefit from being repainted properly although as said it looks very presentable and wears her age with pride. Many would be quite happy as it is and it is better than many old cars.

The sunroof works as it should and is a major plus point although it rattles a bit when shut. needing some new pads in the slider/operating parts.

Summary:-
Give me a call for a chat. if you understand old cars I believe you would not be disappointed for the mid range price. The car can be used just as she is and is a joy but I also believe further improvement would not be a waste of money.

All too often mid priced cars are not really together and running well. this is driving well with those little extras to make is safely usable with your family. my kids love it. The gearbox conversion alone is an expensive item which makes it even better value.

I can arrange for delivery on a trailer for a competitive price.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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