Lot Ended
Description
A wonderful example of this sporting Sixties drop-top; just four
owners from new; recent new hood and carpets; overdrive; twin SU
carbs; runs like a sewing machine; find a better one!
Sunbeam
introduced its two-door, Hillman Minx-based Rapier in 1955. The new model looked
modern and attractive and featured a pillar-less side window arrangement.
Sunbeam continued to develop and improve the Rapier and introduced a MkIII
version in 1959 with an alloy cylinder head, front disc brakes and a close-ratio
gearbox.
In 1961 the model was updated yet again
and became the Rapier MkIIIA with a new 1.6 litre engine which developed 80bhp
and improved performance. Very much a driver’s car, the Rapier proved very
successful on the European rally circuit in the hands of drivers like Peter
Harper and Paddy Hopkirk, a IIIA earning Rootes the manufacturer's prize in the
1962 Monte Carlo Rally.
First registered in Kent
in May 1963, this wonderful Rapier IIIA Convertible has had just four owners
from new, the third of whom bought it in 1992 and kept it for almost 30 years. A
member of the Sunbeam Rapier Owners Club, he looked after the car well as shown
in various invoices on file, including having the overdrive gearbox rebuilt in
2009 at which point the odometer was showing c.4,800 miles (now 7,549 miles). He
also fitted twin SU carbs in place of the original Zenith items for smoother
running (the original carbs and air filters are in the
boot).
Our vendor acquired the car in January
2021 and has improved it still further. This included a partial respray in the
original Velvet Green with Sage Green side stripes. The brightwork was also
replated as required by Castle Chrome Plating of Dudley.
On the inside it got a new set of top quality Kensington Sage carpets
bound in Pine Green and supplied by Coverdale of Hindley. The dashboard has also
been re-veneered and the speedo, rev counter and clock were refurbished and
recalibrated by JDO Instruments of Keighley and a period radio was also fitted.
It also had a new hood and hood cover supplied by Don Trimming of Birmingham at
a cost of almost £900.
The brakes have also been
overhauled with various new parts; the valve clearances have been checked and
the white-band tyres all look fairly new (the spare is unused). Sundry useful
spares are also included, along with various workshop manuals, handbooks, owners
club magazines etc. It also retains its original (transferable) Kent-issue
number plate, 211 XKL.
As you can see in the
photos, this Rapier looks absolutely lovely and has been starting promptly and
running like a sewing machine as we have moved it around on site with good 50psi
oil pressure and the overdrive working as it should.
One of the nicest we have seen, it is on offer here at a very
enticing guide price and is only reluctantly for sale due to the advancing years
of the vendor.
Consigned by James Dennison -
07970 309907 - james.dennison@brightwells.com