1953 Sunbeam Alpine

This 1953 Sunbeam Alpine was in the hands of its former keeper for 23 years, moving into the seller’s care in November 2022.

The purchase was the culmination of a long search for the right car – and that didn’t just mean its mechanical condition or the state of its bodywork, because the seller’s got a sufficiently keen eye that he’s seen Sunbeam Alpines he didn’t like the shape of – and one’s that he did.

Like this one, which he says is “the best and most beautiful I’ve seen”. Hyperbole? Not at all because he puts the slight variations down to the car’s handbuilt nature, with a series of seemingly small differences adding up to something more than its parts.

Which makes sense; after all, if faces can vary drastically because of small variations, why not cars? 

And ‘OOF 844’ wasn’t just a pretty face, because the rest of it made good on the promise the svelte shape hints at.

Sadly, ill-health means he doesn’t have the time or energy to bring it back to a condition he’d be happy with (“I simply can’t do it justice”) so he’s taken the reluctant decision to offer it for sale in the hope it’ll catch someone else’s eye in the same way it did his. 

The overall impression is of a car that’s been looked after over the years, but whose bodywork has suffered a little as the previous owner appears to have concentrated on maintaining the mechanical side of things, rather than the cosmetic.

It still presents well though with ripple-free doors, good shutlines, and a clean finish to those flowing front wings.

Smaller details, like the straight and parallel bonnet louvres, the radiator grille, the lamp lenses, and the badges all reinforce that initial impression of solidity and style.

And the folding roof is in great order. Free of rips, tears, and other damage, it might have faded in the sun but it still sits nice and taut when it is up, tucks away neatly when it is down, and transitions between the two states. The rear screen is a little opaque but there is probably life in it yet.

The weatherproofing equipment also includes two door tops, which are in good order, including the sliding windows. 

The burgundy steel wheels look terrific, and if the chrome hubcaps that enhance them are a little rusty, we can acknowledge they, and the rest of the chromework, is largely straight and free of dents and dinks.

However, the severity of the pitting and tarnishing means most of it would benefit from being refinished or replaced. Of course, if you don’t mind a patina then a good polishing with Autosol or similar would probably make a big difference. 

As for the rest its flaws, there is some repaired damage to the leading edge of the bonnet, which needs tidying up. Or, as the seller put it: “The paintwork has been messed with.”

There is also rust across the body, with the most notable being to the bottom of the nearside rear wing, the wheel arches, the boot lid, and the driver’s door.

Oh, and the tyres are a mixture of three 5.5-16 Avon Tourist and one 5.25-16 Comet. All are old and will need to be replaced.

The red leather interior is in pretty good shape overall, with the worst that can be said of it being the seat bases are a little softer than they should be and the covers have some age-related cracking and wear.

The matching trim around the top of the cabin is also in good shape, including the section that runs along the top of the dashboard.

The door cards are free of damage and serious marks, and the carpets, which are a vibrant red, have only minor holes and wear.   

The white steering wheel is also in a decent condition being free of large cracks, although there are myriad fine ones. It’s grubby too, so perhaps a decent clean would reassure you as to whether the aging is superficial or is serious enough to have damaged its structural integrity. It is also missing its centre cap.

The inner liner of the folding roof is taut and free of ills too, and the boot shows only minor surface rust.

A heater is fitted, and the exposed gear selector mechanism and large knurled knob under the driver’s seat hint at the quality of the engineering that underpins the Sunbeam Alpine’s good looks.

The seller hasn’t been able to do much to it since buying it but says it “starts wonderfully well” but is honest enough to say that the brakes are also binding.

The video confirms that it starts readily and shows decent oil pressure, even if the ammeter doesn’t inspire confidence in the charging system. 

An electrical cutout switch is fitted, which will do double duty as an anti-theft measure and to stop the battery draining itself when it isn’t being used.

Moving under the bonnet we note some rattling when the engine is revved along with smoke being emitted through the oil filler cap.

The exhaust has a nice rasp to it, but there is perhaps a little more smoke than there should be.

So, while it does start and drive, it was trailered to us and we’d strongly recommend the winning bidder do the same prior to having it looked over to ensure it is roadworthy.

The engine bay is a little grubby but there doesn’t appear to be anything more worrisome that a thin veneer of dirt. That’s okay though, because nothing shows oil leaks better and few things set alarm bells ringing faster or more loudly than a recently valeted engine bay.

It’s hard to assess the condition of the underside as there is a good coating of underseal protecting it. However, this too looks to be an older coating and there’s no obvious cause for concern. 

However, the last few MoTs have mentioned corrosion around the rear suspension mounting area, and the one in 2020 mentioned rust in the wheelarches that had been repaired with filler.

The auction listing from 2022, when the vendor bought the car, describes the Alpine’s history thus:

“There is little known history from this example’s early years, but in 1965 the car was owned by a chap in Manchester, at the time finished in Blue. He owned the car until 1971, when it was sold to a man in Cheshire, who then sold the car 3 years later to Mr 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.”

The previous keeper is said to have spent around £7,500, largely with the wonderfully-named Comfort Garage in Falmouth.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the change of colour from blue to white in 1996.

The gallery showing the history file stretches to 101 pages, so why not sit down with a brew and leaf through them to appreciate just how well curated it’s been?

If you don’t have time then the highlights are plenty of invoices for servicing and maintenance dating back to 1989, MoTs going back as far as 1971, magazine articles, a handwritten summary of some of the work undertaken, and the original continuation Registration Book and owner’s manual.

The Sunbeam doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

That said, it was regularly MoT’d until 2021, so there is some online history for you to browse.

Yes, it needs some work, but where else could you pick up a good example of a car that’s associated with Stirling Moss, Grace Kelly, and Cary Grant for between £15,000 and £20,000?

Top-flight rallying AND Hollywood fame for the price of a second-hand Ford Focus?

What a time to be alive, eh?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.