751 Sunbeam Tiger LeMans Coupe (1964)
Sunbeam Tiger LeMans Coupe (1964) Engine 4727cc V8 Ford
Race Number 80 Tony Eckford + Matt Neal
SUNBEAM SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623847032276...
Inspired by Carroll Shelbys efforts in shoehorning a big Ford V8 into the AC Ace to develope the Cobra, Rootes decided to take the same path with their four cylinder Alpine, the project was known as Thunderbolt before the adaptation of the Tiger moniker. Assembled by Jensen Motors and introduced in 1964, the Tiger kept the Alpine's basic layout but featured a stronger gearbox and rear axle plus rack-and-pinion steering.
The Tiger was introduced in April 1964 but ahead of launch, the factory had already embarked on developing the Tiger for racing and rallying, with one of the targets being the 1964 LeMans 24 hour race. Three Tiger Fastback Coupes were prepared by the Rootes Competition Department one to act as a developement mule while the other two would be the race cars. The racer's attractive coupé body was the work of Ron Wisdom, one of Rootes stylists. Up to the 'A' post the body was essentially the same as the production car's, while the raked windscreen created a lower roofline leading to the fastback rear section with a Kamm tail. Once the shape had been finalised, Williams & Pritchard were commissioned to make the aluminium bodies, construction was contracted to Brian Lister with the chosen engine a 260ci Ford V8 (4260cc). The first tests on the completed cars revealed serious suspension issues, but their was no time to address the issues before May, LeMans test days. Drivers reported handling shortcomings, overheating brakes and low oil pressure in slower corners, returning to the UK efforts were made to address the problems before the cars were flown to France. During the race the rushed development soon showed with the first car retiring with piston failure after three hours and the second car retiring after nine hours with a broken crankshaft.
In early 1965 both race cars were purchased by Alan Frazer Racing Team, and ongoing developement finally gave the cars race winning potential, after that the cars went their own separate ways and along the way aquired the Tigers later 4728cc V8.
Many thanks for a fantabulous
43,944,964 views (adjusted and readjusted during FLICKR re-engineering, reduced by around 650,000)
Shot at the Silverstone Classic 14-15 July 2015- Ref 109-751
751 Sunbeam Tiger LeMans Coupe (1964)
Sunbeam Tiger LeMans Coupe (1964) Engine 4727cc V8 Ford
Race Number 80 Tony Eckford + Matt Neal
SUNBEAM SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623847032276...
Inspired by Carroll Shelbys efforts in shoehorning a big Ford V8 into the AC Ace to develope the Cobra, Rootes decided to take the same path with their four cylinder Alpine, the project was known as Thunderbolt before the adaptation of the Tiger moniker. Assembled by Jensen Motors and introduced in 1964, the Tiger kept the Alpine's basic layout but featured a stronger gearbox and rear axle plus rack-and-pinion steering.
The Tiger was introduced in April 1964 but ahead of launch, the factory had already embarked on developing the Tiger for racing and rallying, with one of the targets being the 1964 LeMans 24 hour race. Three Tiger Fastback Coupes were prepared by the Rootes Competition Department one to act as a developement mule while the other two would be the race cars. The racer's attractive coupé body was the work of Ron Wisdom, one of Rootes stylists. Up to the 'A' post the body was essentially the same as the production car's, while the raked windscreen created a lower roofline leading to the fastback rear section with a Kamm tail. Once the shape had been finalised, Williams & Pritchard were commissioned to make the aluminium bodies, construction was contracted to Brian Lister with the chosen engine a 260ci Ford V8 (4260cc). The first tests on the completed cars revealed serious suspension issues, but their was no time to address the issues before May, LeMans test days. Drivers reported handling shortcomings, overheating brakes and low oil pressure in slower corners, returning to the UK efforts were made to address the problems before the cars were flown to France. During the race the rushed development soon showed with the first car retiring with piston failure after three hours and the second car retiring after nine hours with a broken crankshaft.
In early 1965 both race cars were purchased by Alan Frazer Racing Team, and ongoing developement finally gave the cars race winning potential, after that the cars went their own separate ways and along the way aquired the Tigers later 4728cc V8.
Many thanks for a fantabulous
43,944,964 views (adjusted and readjusted during FLICKR re-engineering, reduced by around 650,000)
Shot at the Silverstone Classic 14-15 July 2015- Ref 109-751