1923 Sunbeam 24/60 All-Weather Tourer Registration Number: ...

Estimate

£28,000 - £34,000

1923 Sunbeam 24/60 All-Weather Tourer

Registration Number: SG 7939
Chassis Number: 7041/C
Engine Number: 24/7030
Recorded Mileage: TBA

- Believed to be the only surviving 24/60 of this type
- History dating back to the 1920s

Founded by John Marston, a God-fearing Victorian industrialist who foresaw the growth in demand for private transport, Sunbeam was first associated with beautifully made, though expensive, bicycles. Although comparative latecomers to motor car manufacture, the Wolverhampton-based Sunbeam factory quickly established a fine reputation alongside Lanchester, Wolseley, Austin and Daimler at the heart of the expanding Midlands motor industry.

The company's first conventional car was largely conceived by T C Pullinger, who persuaded Marston to purchase a complete chassis from the French Berliet concern. Exhibited at the Crystal Palace in November 1902, it was marketed as the Sunbeam 10/12, but it was not until 1907, two years after the Sunbeam Motor Car Company had been formed, that the firm produced its first all-British model, the 16/20. The arrival from Hillman in 1909 of influential designer Louis Coatalen and the pursuit of an effective competitions program enabled the marque to establish a formidable reputation prior to WWI, its superbly made products enjoying a reputation rivalling that of the best from Alvis and Bentley thereafter.

Coatalen's Sunbeams won countless races at Brooklands and set a number of speed records prior to WWI, and after The Great War the firm continued to be active in motor sport at the highest level, supplying racing cars to Henry Segrave. An ex-Royal Flying Corps pilot, Segrave made history in 1923 when he won the French Grand Prix at the wheel of a Sunbeam, thus becoming the first British driver to win a Grand Prix driving a British car. Segrave's car was powered by a new state-of-the art, twin-overhead camshaft, 3.0-liter racing engine designed by Vincent Bertarione, who had been recruited by Coatalen from FIAT.

Drawing on Sunbeam's considerable Grand Prix racing experience, which stretched back to 1914, the 24/60 production model featured a robust overhead-valve six-cylinder engine fed by a dual throat Claudel carburetor that tested in excess of 60HP. The chassis specification included a four-speed in-unit gearbox, torque tube back axle, semi-elliptic front suspension and rear suspension brakes on the transmission and rear axle. Enough power to propel formal coachwork and exciting performance when fitted with lightweight bodies.

This extremely elegant 24/60 All-Weather Tourer has formed part of a private collection in recent years. In the handsome colour combination of deep burgundy with black wings, the Sunbeam has clearly been cherished and comes with history extraordinarily dating back to the 1920s. A small number of 24/60s are in existence, but this is thought to be the only All-Weather Tourer with its folding hood and wind-up windows. The motor car benefits from a full ownership history; from new to 1938 it belonged to a Mr Montieth of Edinburgh and then formed part of a private museum display until the early Seventies.

A full restoration of the motor car was carried out in 2002 by Peter Middleton and information on this work is supplied in the history file. Overall, the condition of the bodywork is described as very good, with an equally good floor, chassis and body frame etc. The paintwork remains in excellent order and the brightwork is good although the hub caps could be re-plated.

The leather upholstery is believed to be original, showing the patina of age; the rubber floor covering to the front and the red carpet to the rear are both replacements and very good. The leather door trims remain good and benefit from useful interior pockets to the rear, both sides. The dashboard and door cappings are original. The hood is old, possibly original, and has been repaired at various stages. The windscreen has individual openings and the rear Auster screen is present. We understand that the tyres could benefit from being replaced. The engine has covered less than 38,000 miles since the restoration in the early 2000s. The mechanical aspects of the Sunbeam have been well maintained, the car has no known faults. The electrical, steering, cooling and braking systems are, we are assured, all good.

Supplied with the motor car are handwritten maintenance notes from the 1920s, an original handbook, an original spare parts book, MOT test certificates, CDs of hand / instruction books, correspondence, images, invoices from the 2002 restoration, mechanical diagrams and information, an RF60 continuation book from 1933 and the V5C registration certificate. An exceptionally rare vintage car with equally impressive history.