1953 Sunbeam Alpine Roadster

Registration No: OOF 844
Chassis No: A0313789HR0
MOT: Exempt

• In current ownership for the last 23 years and in previous ownership for 25 years
• Impressive history file containing invoices and receipts totalling some £11,000
• A great winter project for any enthusiast

Though developed from the Sunbeam-Talbot 90, the Alpine was the first Rootes Group product to wear just the Sunbeam badge. Inspired by Bournemouth-based Sunbeam-Talbot dealer George Hartwell, the design was finalised by Raymond Loewy. The newcomer found fame at the hands of Works drivers Stirling Moss and Sheila Van Damm and starred in ‘To Catch A Thief’ with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. The Alpine bodies were hand-made by Mulliners Ltd of Birmingham and the cars were powered by a mildly-tuned version of the 2267cc four-cylinder engine from the Sunbeam-Talbot 90, which gave around 80bhp at 4200rpm. The Alpine was manufactured from 1953 to 1955, during which time some 1,282 MkIs and 300 MkIIIs were produced (there was no MkII version), of which relatively few remain - possibly no more than 200

First registered on 14 December 1953, ‘OOF 844’ is offered for sale having been in current ownership for the last 23 years. There is little known history from this example’s early years, but in 1965 the car was owned by a Richard Podmore of Manchester, at the time finished in Blue. Podmore owned the car until 1971, when it was sold to a James Irving of Hazel Grove, Cheshire, who then sold the car 3 years later to A Serle from Stockport. Serle would own the car for 25 years. In this time, he would have the car resprayed in White. Included within the history file is written documentation detailing the history of works undertaken in his ownership.

Purchased by the current vendor in 1999, ‘OOF 844’ has not been once more restored, but has received regular mechanical maintenance from a local specialist over its current ownership, to the tune of some £7500. The car has received an MOT nearly every with the most recent expiring on 30 July 2022 and comes accompanied with a now extensive history file with invoices and receipts totalling some £11,000 and dating back as far as 1988. Also included is a large collection of MOT certificates dating back as far as 1971 and an original continuation book, period magazine cut-outs from when the car was new, an original sales brochure, original workshop/owner’s manual and the current V5C document.

‘OOF 844’ has been subject to a compression test, points cleaned and adjusted, as well as replacement spark plugs, HT leads and condenser over the course of 2022. Unfortunately, whilst the car does run, it has lost drive and so the clutch or gearbox will require attention. Worth also noting is that the odometer does not work and has remained at 31,492 miles for a number of years. Now offered for sale as the vendor feels it is time for the car to find a new home, this now presents a fantastic ‘winter project’ opportunity for any enthusiast.