Description

1956 Sunbeam Talbot 90 MkIII

An attractive example with considerable work done since 2016

The first Rootes design of the post-war era, the Sunbeam-Talbot 90 was launched in 1948 and featured a modified pre-war 2-litre chassis and an overhead valve version of the 2-litre Humber Hawk engine. In 1950 the car was much improved in MkII form with a new cruciform chassis frame, independent front suspension, better brakes and an enlarged 2,267cc 70bhp engine. Stirling Moss proved the ability of the new car by coming second overall in the 1952 Monte Carlo Rally, while works entries walked off with the Team Prize in the French Alpine Rally later in the year. In 1952 the car was further upgraded to MkIIA spec now with 77bhp and in 1954 came the best model of all, the 80bhp Sunbeam 90 MkIII, easily distinguished by the three portholes on either side of the bonnet. Blessed with fine handling for its day with spirited acceleration, a top speed of almost 100mph and bullet-proof reliability, it made for a very sporting saloon and won the Alpine Rally outright in 1955.

DJK395 was first registered in September 1956 to a Mr Edmund Haswell in Eastbourne as shown on the original buff logbook. It comes with a ring binder full of extensive year by year records of service history and other maintenance work going back to 1969 including the floor gear change conversion and a respray in 1984.  The engine was rebuilt in 1984/5, including work to the cylinder head and bottom end, a new oil pump and a rechrome of the grille and surround. There was some body work carried out in 1999 and a new brake master cylinder in 2001 and various MOTs and many receipts from 1969 onwards. 

The mileage is showing an unsubstantiated 78,000 miles and the current owner has had the car since 2016. He has carried out considerable work bringing the car up to the current condition, work which included another complete respray in the original shade of grey, the chassis and under areas steam cleaned and repainted in chassis black and extensive bodywork to rear wheel arches, front wheel arches and surrounding floor area. It also got partial brake pipe replacement, new brake shoes and wheel cylinders all round, new flexible hoses and new fluid reservoir, new starter solenoid fitted and a professionally fitted alternator (Dynamo look alike). A Flexolite oil filter adaptor to take modern spin-on filter was added along with a new silencer, electronic rev counter re-calibrated, five new Michelin X tyres and a high level brake light fitted.

Driven to us for the sale, the vendor advises that it ran well on a very hot day, although tells us that the water temperature gauge is currently not working. The original interior has a lovely patina to the leather upholstery with the driver’s seat having small split on top of the seat back, the car otherwise presenting well and looking present and correct.

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