1965 Sunbeam Alpine Series IVa GT
£10,750

Sunbeam Alpine GT

Equipment:

Series IVa GT, registered May1965. 1,725cc OHV 4-cyl engine, single Solex carburettor. 4-speed manual transmission with factory fitted overdrive. Front disc brakes with rear drums. Brake servo. Electronic ignition. Front seat belts. Two speed wipers and electric washers. Two speed heater. Spare wheel with original jack. Halogen headlamps. ‘Webasto-type’ sliding sunroof. Tonneau cover for when roof off. Will come with 12 months MoT prior to sale.

Description:

The Sunbeam Alpine Series IVa, produced between 1964 and 1965, represented a refined evolution of the original classic British roadster, debuting in Series I form in 1959. Initially retaining the 1592cc engine and positive earth electrics of the earlier cars, it offered a smoother driving experience with the introduction of a fully synchronized gearbox and optional electric overdrive. Visually, it departed from earlier models by adopting a squared-off rear end and eliminating the pronounced tail fins, giving it a more modern and understated look. Available in both GT and ST variants, the Series IVa balanced sporty performance with everyday drivability, making it a great choice for enthusiasts who want something a little different from an MG or a Triumph. The IVa GT is believed to be the rarest of all the Alpine variants, and was introduced for the US market who wanted more space which the folding roof mechanism of the soft top took up.

This particular Series IVa GT offers the fibreglass removable hard top (easily removed by two people), and was first registered in May 1965 in Maidstone. The first owner owned the car all the way until the early 2000s, which is when the second owner acquired it to carry out a full ‘bare metal’ restoration on the car and putting it into its resplendent Mediterranean Blue paintwork. The last owner of the car purchased it in 2012, and enjoyed the car on sunny days and the show scene. In 2015, the car required an engine replacement due to a failure, so it was sent off to Alpine specialist Chris Draycott for a reconditioned 1725 unit to be fitted which included an unleaded head. It is believed that the car may be ‘crossover’ production car as we are told the car had the larger 1725cc engine fitted from new (which would have been fitted to Series V cars), but we can’t verify this and many cars got retrofitted with them in period. Even still, this offers a good power gain from the earlier 1592cc units. Other work carried out at the time included a rebuilt differential, and recently the carburettor was rebuilt and electronic ignition fitted.

Externally, the car is in great shape in its lovely ‘baby blue’ paint. There is the odd mark here and there, including a bit of crazing in the paint, a chip on the front nearside wing and a little bit of pitting on some of the chrome work, but overall it is very presentable and stands very well indeed at any show! Underneath is very solid indeed with no corrosion, and has been protected by underseal since it’s restoration. Inside, the interior is in great condition retaining all the correct trim and gauges, the only departure from standard we know of is the addition of a warning beeper for the indicators (so you don’t accidentally leave them on). All the electrics work correctly, although the ammeter may need calibrating as it doesn’t show a positive charge even though we have tested a good 14 ish volts from the dynamo.

Cranking up the engine, it fires easily from cold and pulls very well out on the open road once warmed up with a great soundtrack from the exhaust! At slower speeds the car is sometimes very slightly hesitant, but has been improving with use and we put this down to the fact it has only done 700 odd miles since it was fitted, and some older fuel is still present having been topped up with fresh super unleaded. The four speed syncro box selects gears as it should, and the electric overdrive drops in and out on the column stalk as it should with the usual ‘soft’ delay when engaging. The steering feels nice and direct and the servo-assisted brakes bring it up to a stop strong and straight.

The car will be MoT’d soon, (although MoT and tax exempt) and the odometer reads 04793 miles however we cannot verify this to be correct (we suspect the odometer was zeroed when the car was restored). It also comes with a history file including receipts and info etc, plus a second set of keys. The original jack is present plus a new wheel brace, tonneau cover for when the roof is off, plus some touch up paint and the original painted boot hinges. Please do get in touch if you wish to know more or to arrange a viewing!

Price: £10,750

1965 Sunbeam Alpine Series IVa GT £10,750

1965 Sunbeam Alpine Series IVa GT
£10,750