Talbot Sunbeam Lotus

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Launched at the 1979 Geneva Motor Show, the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus was a ‘homologation special’ created by Chrysler’s motorsport division in an effort to give the Ford Escort a run for its money on the world rally scene.

The bodyshell was based on the humble Chrysler Sunbeam hatchback produced at Chrysler’s Linwood factory in Scotland but this was then sent to the Lotus factory in Norfolk for a serious dose of steroids. This included fitting Lotus-designed suspension and exhaust systems, the same 150bhp 16-valve 2.2-litre twin cam engine as fitted to the Lotus Esprit and a 5-speed ZF gearbox.

Agile, punchy and weighing just 960kg, the resultant rear-wheel drive hot hatch could sprint to 60mph in just 6.6 seconds on its way to a top speed of 121mph. For competition use the engine was easily tuned to 240bhp and it proved a formidable rally weapon, winning the 1980 RAC Rally in the hands of Henri Toivonen and winning the World Rally Championship outright in 1981.

Unfortunately for Chrysler, the all-wheel drive Audi Quattro then burst onto the scene and instantly rendered the two-wheel drive opposition redundant. Only 2,308 Sunbeam Lotus models were made before production came to an end in 1983, of which just 1,184 were in right-hand drive. It is thought that only around 80 examples survive in roadworthy condition and all are increasingly sought after today.

First registered in April 1983, this Talbot is more punchy than most as it had a full engine rebuild in 2000 by Martin Shirley Developments to Road Sprint 900 spec and now produces 215bhp with a print-out to prove. The rest of the car was restored in the same year, with photos to document the work carried out.

We are told that it also comes with a good history file from new which includes the original service book and many invoices, a fair few from Skip Brown who also carried out a rear disc brake conversion. It has also been upgraded with a Toyota Supra quick shift and ‘box conversion.

It is showing only 52,000 miles on the clock which isn’t warranted but an online MOT history check suggests that it has only covered a handful of miles since 2006 (either that or the odometer is not working correctly). The current MOT runs to August 2019 with no advisories recorded.

These cars rarely come up for auction and when they do, top examples make considerably more than the guide price suggested so this one is definitely worth a look.