This 1953 Sunbeam Alpine is one of 1,582 Mark I examples built over two years of production, and it is powered by a 305ci Chevrolet V8 paired with a TH350 automatic transmission and a custom Ford rear end. The drivetrain was installed during a refurbishment carried out by a previous owner in the late 1980s, after which it reportedly remained with the same owner until the current owner purchased it in 2010. Finished in two-tone black and gray over red leather, the two-seater is equipped with a black soft top and removable sliding windows. This Mark I Alpine is now offered on dealer consignment with service records, documentation from the refurbishment, an owner’s manual, a red tonneau cover, a vintage racing cap, and a clean California title.
Based on the Sunbeam-Talbot 90 sedan and introduced in 1953, the Alpine roadster was designed as a rally special and was hand-built by London coachbuilding firm Thrupp & Maberly. This example was repainted during the refurbishment in black with gray accents on the front panels, and close-up photos of the finish and trim are provided in the gallery below.
16” black steel wheels feature polished hubcaps and beauty rings and are mounted with Firestone Deluxe Champion wide-whitewall tires. A new black soft top was fabricated by Ackerman’s Upholstery in Sepulveda, California during the 1980s refurbishment, with repairs also made to the removable sliding side windows. Black California license plates are retained front and rear.
The interior was re-trimmed by Jerry’s Auto Upholstery in Hawthorne, California in 1989 with red Connolly leather upholstery and matching Wilton carpets. Color-keyed lap belts are equipped for both occupants, and a custom shifter setup has been added in the center console. A custom sound system has been added, with a head unit hidden in the glovebox.
A white banjo-style steering wheel with turn signal controls integrated in the hub sits ahead of a 120-mph speedometer and a five-digit odometer showing just under 60k miles, approximately 750 of which have been added by the current owner. True mileage is unknown. A factory tachometer is situated under the center of the dash.
A 305ci Chevrolet V8 was installed by Conversion Service Center in Hawthorne, California in 1989, along with a Turbo-Hydramatic TH350 three-speed automatic transmission, a custom rear axle based on an 8” Ford rear end with a 2.80:1 ratio, and a custom driveshaft. Invoices for the work also list the installation of a four-barrel carburetor, an Edelbrock Streetmaster intake manifold, and HEI ignition, as well as electrical work from Asom Electric in Beverly Hills, California. An oil change was completed six months ago.
Additional underside photos are provided in the gallery below. According to a 1988 appraisal included in the gallery, the car was previously equipped with an earlier Chevy V8 and a two-speed automatic transmission that had been installed in 1956.
Photos in the gallery below show the car prior to and during the refurbishment, and a sample of the included invoices are also shown. Videos below features a walk-around and a tour of the interior, as well as a start up, footage of the engine running, and a ride along.
Photo Gallery
