This 1960 Sunbeam Alpine Series 1, recently sold on eBay, must be a blast to drive. The original 1,492cc four produced only 80 horsepower, but this car had its Rootes four-banger swapped out for a 12A Mazda RX-7 engine with a Weber carb. The result is 140 horsepower on tap, driving through a five-speed Mazda transmission.
Goodbye, Rootes
The Sunbeam is known for its hot-rodding history—thanks to a collaboration with Carroll Shelby. The Alpine with a Ford V-8 (260 and 289 cubic inches) is called the Sunbeam Tiger. Those original Tigers are worth big bucks now—probably three times what this Mazda-powered Sunbeam commonly fetches. But the Tiger is not likely to be three times as much fun.
The seller notes:
The Tiger is cool, but she’s a heavy handful around the corners and pricey these days.
Indeed, the Mazda rotary engine has become a popular choice for engine swaps. It’s remarkably compact and lightweight, fitting into nearly any engine bay. Moreover, RX7 and Miata suspension and drivetrain components can interchange, so a vast aftermarket supply makes any rotary swap a little bit easier.
A Rare, Early Specimen
There’s a lot to like with this Sunbeam Alpine on eBay. The car is a very early Series 1, with a VIN that suggests a 1959 build—but it’s titled as 1960. It was number 893 off the line, with most of them destined for export to the U.S. These early cars had very prominent rear fins, dropped on the later Alpines and all the Tigers.
This bright-red car looks quite tidy, and the engine installation looks professional. Although not perfect, the paint is recent. The chrome and trim are fine, as is the black upholstery with custom badging.
A black factory-style hardtop in need of refurbishment comes with the car. The headliner is included but needs to be installed. There is also a serviceable white cloth top with a plastic back window that the next owner should replace.
Read this: How to Fix a Sagging Roof Liner.
Classic Style and Mazda Reliability
This car would be a hit at car shows, and servicing and parts shouldn’t be difficult. It’s still mostly Sunbeam, so eBay’s supply of Alpine parts is handy.
The RX-7 motor installed in this car was freshly rebuilt. If it needs servicing down the road, the Mazda rotary has an excellent knowledge base of racers and tuners worldwide.
Mazda has a history of doing things differently. After all, they were the only company ever mass-producing a rotary, and it’s one of the few companies still building an affordable roadster. In that sense, this Mazda-powered Sunbeam Alpine is a classically-styled homage to the small, stylish, and great-handling Miata.
