Sunbeam 20hp Open Two-Seater and Dicky

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The Sunbeam marque was a force to be reckoned with in the 1920s, manufacturing a range of superb quality cars appealing to the discerning motorist.

Clutton and Stanford wrote in their excellent book The Vintage Motor Car: "The Sunbeams of the Vintage period and early thirties occupy a unique position. They combined smoothness with reasonably high performance and good handling. Mechanically, they showed considerable Continental influence, especially in the clean external design of the engines. In appearance they combined dignity and dash with remarkable success. To drive them is a delight, in a peculiar way, not unlike the small contemporary Rolls- Royce."

The continental influence to which they refer came from the genius of Louis Coatalen, Sunbeam’s brilliant chief engineer. Spearheading Sunbeam’s aero engine development during WW1, Coatalen used his experience to develop Sunbeam’s racing and Land Speed Record machines in the early ‘20s. By this time the company had joined forces with Talbot and Darracq, Coatalen heavily influencing all of the offerings from the STD concern.

Perhaps his best known design was the gorgeous 3-Litre Twin Cam which showed how the company could use their enormous racing experience in a production model, however their range of 14hp, 16hp, 20hp and 25hp chassis all exhibited the same attention to detail and engineering integrity.

The 20hp was initially fitted with a super smooth and powerful 2,912cc six-cylinder push-rod ohv engine that had a four-bearing crankshaft and used the same bore and stroke as the Twin-Cam. Both models shared many chassis components, including the delightful and easily mastered four-speed crash gearbox. They were both initially sold with rather old fashioned cantilever rear springing, a feature which was to tarnish the sporting credentials of the Twin-Cam, but was changed to conventional semi-elliptic springs on the 20hp from 1930. At this time, the lusty 20hp engine was uprated to 3,317cc giving it a fiscal tax rating of 23.8hp.

This fine late 1930 20hp Open Two-Seater and Dicky was purchased by the vendor through the Sunbeam club as a Vintage driver while he completed the restoration of his Alvis. Now that the Alvis is finished and on the road, he is not giving the Sunbeam the regular exercise that it deserves and so has decided to pass it on to a new owner to enjoy.

An older restoration, he describes it as a powerful and delightful Vintage car, the only work having been required during his ownership being a rebuild of the starter and fuel pump. In ready to use condition, the 20hp Sunbeam represents the very best of the Vintage period, displaying the quality of Coatalen’s original design with an ability to both go and stop extremely well. In the case of this car, its attractive Two-Seater and Dicky coachwork is in sound and usable condition and a good hood makes it a particularly civilised place to be even if the weather closes in – as long as you’re not a rear seat passenger of course!

Quality Vintage cars like these don’t become available every day and we are delighted to offer such a fine Sunbeam in the sale today.