Lot Ended
Description
Amendment: - additional information; impressive top-quality
six-cylinder Sunbeam; lots of nice detail features; driven 35+ miles to the
sale; a powerful Vintage tourer for all the family...
This rather
splendid 3-litre six-cylinder Sunbeam is well-know to the Register and has been
better known as UX 848 for most of its life.
Its first owner is recorded
as a Mrs Banister of Caynton Hall, Wolverhampton, the car living in that area
until it moved to Yorkshire in 1969.
Resting in the hands of Mr D
Archbell who owned it for the next eight years, it was a fine four-seat tourer
of the best traditions and was kept well up to the mark.
A note book from
the early 1970s lists the work that was done during period, all of which holds
little relevance, even if it is part of its history as unfortunately a
garage fire damaged the vehicle in 1987.
The rolling-chassis passed
through one more owner before our vendor acquired it in 2016 and actually got
about the job of a rebuild.
For some reason unknown, the DVLA would not
reissue the original number, despite generous help from the STD Register,
instead providing an age-related number correctly dating the car from July
1927.
Both front and rear axles were rebuilt by Sunbeam guru Bill Barrot
- with invoices in the file for the work done. He also supplied a slightly later
gearbox which makes for an easier change. Julian Ghosh took the bare
chassis for checking and repair, carefully measuring it for accuracy and
replacing any loose rivets etc.
The engine was rebuilt by Clive Smith and
the car came with a new radiator. The four running wheels were rebuilt by Jones
Bros. Cardiff with new rims.
The vendor, starting with a blank canvas as
far as coachwork was concerned, decided he wanted a short-body open four-seater
sports model and designed a body to suit - professionally built as one can see
from the attached photos.
This was skinned and trimmed in blue vinyl
and professionally trimmed too. The front as you will see is in quality blue
leather, while at the rear is a very special 'hounds-tooth' tweed, specially
made for the owner who has major links to the wool industry - it
is the absolute best tweed and looks superb.
The rest of the car has
been completed with much attention to detail, from the lovely CAV head and side
lights, to the impressive array of quality Jaeger instruments including a
rev counter - no expense has been spared.
It comes with a good hood
and was driven some 35 miles to the sale without missing a beat.
Sunbeam
quality is hard to beat, and this 20.9 (or 20/70 as it is also known) was well
up the pecking order of their product lineup. It would have been a very
expensive car in its day.
With little to do but enjoy the ride, this car
offers quality Vintage motoring in an easy to drive package with
plenty of go and an excellent parts supply, should that be needed
as some point in the future.
Contact [email protected]
* All charges are subject to VAT