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| Yo Ming Nelson Tang and Nigel Kat and 1959 Sunbeam Rapier, 2016 Tour Auto |
For more photos of the 2016 Tour Auto, click on the link above.
Sunbeam, Ryton on Dunsmore, England. Sunbeam produced the original Rapier from 1955 to 1967. it was a two door Coupé although convertibles were also produced. it went through a series of revisions in its life from Series I to V. It preceded the Rootes Group other creations, the Hillman Minx and Singer Gazelle. The fifties cars had a 1.5 litre straight four engine. For later versions the capacity was increased to 1.6 litres. The early series cars were capable of 90mph and a 0-60mph time of around 20 seconds. Later versions could get from 0-60mph in just over 14 seconds. In 1958 a Sunbeam rapier won the RAC Rally in very severe weather conditions crewed by Peter Harper and Bill Deane. Harper also came fifth in that years Monte Carlo Rally driving a Rapier. In 1962 A Sunbeam Rapier driven by Keith Ballisat and Ian Lewis came sixth in the Touring Car category and Rosemary Smith and Rosemary Seers won the Coupe des Dames in the same event. Rapiers also competed and finished the last two Mille Miglia of 1956 and 1957. I believe the car pictured is an ex-work Series III Rapier that competed in the 1960 Monte Carlo Rally driven by Peter Jopp and Les Leston. In private hands it finished 2nd in the Welsh rally and then won some Motoring News events.
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