Sunbeam Alpine was a series of 2-seat sports cars manufactured in the UK. It was manufactured in three generations between 1953 to 1975. The second-generation Sunbeam Alpine vehicles were refined and known for their engines. Let us see about the 1967 Sunbeam Alpine.
Refined Vehicle
The 1967 Sunbeam Alpine was a refined vehicle. The entire second-generation was polished and redesigned again with luxury features. It was built around the strongest engine with higher CC. Issues in previous Sunbeam Alpine were sorted in this model. This series offered extra stability and control when compared to previous Sunbeam Alpine cars. Although it was not a heavy speed vehicle, the ride was great.
Inline-4 Engine
Sunbeam Alpine was a British vehicle. It was not a muscle car. The model was built around inline-4 engines with Twin Zenith-Stromberg carburetors, OHV, RWD, and Synchromesh manual gearboxes. Right from engines to gearboxes, everything was refined. Sunbeam Alpine offered quick acceleration with a top speed of 102mph. Although it was not a racing vehicle, the speed was good for its time. The vehicle’s engineering was the best for a British model in the 60s. Sunbeam Alpine remains a classic vehicle as these types of cars don’t come every year.
Full-fledged Features
Sunbeam Alpine was grandeur in all aspects. The premium interior features like bucket seats, glovebox, roll up side windows, and padded dashboard were added. The previous generation Alpine vehicles didn’t have all of these. It was an optional convertible and hardtop model. The technology features were Front disc brakes, suspension with coil springs, rear axle, leaf springs, and overhead valve.
Great Legacy
Sunbeam Alpine didn’t have a great cultural impact, but it was a part of pop culture. When the vehicle appeared in the James Bond movie, Dr. No, it gained a huge fanbase. It featured in TV shows like “Butterfield 8” and “To Catch a Thief”. Sunbeam Alpine made way for more roadsters in the 70s. It shared its platform with the iconic Sunbeam Tiger. Sunbeam Alpine didn’t directly feature in races like NASCAR, but it was part of other racing events like Alpine Rally. It also featured in other racing events like SCCA and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Elegant Vehicle
Sunbeam Alpine featured a clean and sporty design. The two-door car had a low slung body with a wide stance, long hood, and short rear deck. It had round headlights, badges, rear fender contours, and chromium bumpers. The entire styling was unique with lockable doors, thick carpeting, and weather protection. This Alpine model was available in colors like forest green, red, yellow, and blue.
Comfortable Vehicle
The Sunbeam Alpine had upgraded luxury features. Being a premium sports car, it had bucket seats, roll-up side windows, heater, and more luxury features to keep the passengers engaged. The soft suspension and advanced tech ensured there were no noises from the engines. Sunbeam Alpine was partly a durable vehicle. It was made with aluminum and steel body panels on a strong chassis. The transmission also ensured the vehicle had great endurance.
Commercial Success
The second-generation Sunbeam Alpine was more successful in sales when compared to its previous generation. In 1967, the vehicle sold more than 7k units. Alpine was priced between $2,400 USD to $2,700 USD. The entire Alpine series sold more than 1 lakh units. Today, Sunbeam Alpine vehicles are available to purchase in collector markets and through auctions. The precious vehicle is now sold for around $30,000 USD and this varies based on the models. Fully redesigned Sunbeam Alpine costs more than this price.