Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA

Click Here for Full Screen Image - Click Here to Download Image

Sunbeam first 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. Created by the design firm of Raymond Loewy Associates, the new car was heavily influenced by Loewy's 1953 Studebaker Hawk.

The Sunbeam Rapier Series II arrived in 1958, available in hardtop and convertible forms and Sunbeam continued to develop and improve the car, launching a Series III version in 1959.

The bodies were built by Pressed Steel and were delivered to Thrupp and Maberley for painting and trimming. They were then moved to the Ryton plant to be finished off - altogether a rather complicated way of building a car by today’s standards. The Mk III now had an alloy cylinder head, disc brakes up front and a close ratio gearbox. The result was a very fine product indeed. The earlier series Rapiers had been proven on the international rally circuit and many of the lessons learnt over four years of serious competition were incorporated into the Series III. These included the floor mounted gear change, the 1,494cc 78bhp 'Rallymotor' engine with 8-port alloy head, twin Zenith carburettors and taut re-circulating ball steering. The Series III is often referred to as the definitive Rapier with much justification.

In 1961 the model was updated yet again and became the Rapier Mk IIIA with a new 1.6 litre engine which developed 80bhp and gave the car yet more performance. Most notably raced by Paddy Hopkirk, a IIIA earned Rootes the manufacturer's prize in the 1962 Monte Carlo Rally.

There would be another two variants of the Rapier built before the model finally went out of production in 1967. A total of 68,800 examples were delivered, a revised model being introduced approximately every two years, the Series IIIA being the most numerous with a total of 17,354 examples built between 1961 and 1963.

This Series IIIA was first registered in July 1961 and was acquired for the Stondon Collection in 1997. It comes with a current V5C which shows that it has had three former keepers since it was first registered and two old MOTs on file suggest that it was last used on the road in 1995. It comes with an original dealer list and bidders are advised that the number VVS 918 is non-transferable.