This 1964 Sunbeam Tiger GT reportedly was discovered in a garage in Palo Alto, California in the 1990s by Tiger historian Norman Miller, who verified it as a genuine GT car built by the Rootes Group in August 1964. The car was then purchased by a collector who refurbished it in the early 2000s with a rebuild of the numbers-matching 260ci V8, a bare-metal repaint in black, a new interior, and more as described below. The car spent time with another owner in Hawaii before returning to California in 2015 and being offered on BaT in November 2017. Service by the most recent owner has included the replacement of the clutch, clutch master and slave cylinders, generator, voltage regulator, spark plugs, wiring harness, and brake booster. This Tiger GT is now offered at no reserve by the selling dealer with a Certificate of Disclosure by Norman Miller, owner’s manual, matching hardtop, service records, and a clean California title.
The GT was distinguished from Tiger “Sports Tourer” models primarily by its lack of a convertible top and fitment of a standard body-color hardtop; only fifteen examples were built. This car received a bare-metal repaint in black under previous ownership in the early 2000s, although it was originally finished in Moonstone white (19). An LAT hood scoop is equipped. The body was repaired in 2016 by Lasky Coachworks in Los Angeles, California, reportedly to address rust in the passenger-side quarter panel as well as other imperfections. The work included the refinishing of the front end, upper cowl vent, hood assembly, rocker panels, quarter-panel assemblies, trunk lid, and more as detailed on invoices presented in the photo gallery below.
15″ Halibrand wheels are shod with BFGoodrich Advantage T/A tires that were installed in April 2016. Four-wheel disc brakes are equipped.
The GT model received a walnut dashboard, wood-rimmed steering wheel, clock, ammeter, and glovebox light as standard equipment. This example’s black interior reportedly was refurbished with new Connolly leather upholstery and Wilton carpeting in the early 2000s. The steering wheel was refinished and a new shifter installed in 2016. Black floor mats with Tiger lettering have been added.
Jaeger instrumentation includes a 5,500-rpm tachometer and a 140-mph speedometer that hosts a five-digit odometer indicating just under 6k miles. The odometer was reportedly reset in the early 2000s at approximately 60k miles, although true mileage is unknown. The tachometer was repaired in 2018.
The matching-numbers 260ci V8 is mated to a non-original close-ratio four-speed manual transmission said by Norman Miller to have been originally fitted to another Tiger. An engine rebuild was completed in the early 2000s during the refurbishment process, and an electronic fuel-injection system was removed in favor of a Holley carburetor in 2015 by Dale’s Restorations of San Bernardino, California.
A stainless-steel exhaust system has been installed, and the clutch was replaced in March 2018. Additional maintenance performed within the past three years included replacement of the clutch master and slave cylinders, generator, voltage regulator, spark plugs, wiring harness, and brake booster. More photos of the underside are viewable in the gallery.
The data plate pictured above shows the stamp for engine number 1245 G13KA, which corresponds with the number found on a valve cover and on the Certificate of Disclosure.
The Certificate of Disclosure by Norman Miller indicates that this car is one of only eleven known surviving Tigers GTs of fifteen built, and it is certified as an original GT under the California Association of Sunbeam Tiger Owners program. A reproduction tool kit signed by Carroll Shelby, an owner’s manual, hardtop stand, hardtop cover, car cover, literature, and service records are also included.
PHOTO GALLERY
